ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Forestry Commission (Grants)

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what sum was awarded in grants to private woodland owners by the Forestry Commission in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 2002–03; and what proportion was funded from EU sources.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 October 2004
	The value of grants awarded to private woodland owners in Great Britain by the Forestry Commission in:
	(a) 1998–99 was £42.5 million of which £14.1 million was co-financed by the European Union; and
	(b) 2002–03 was £37.8 million of which £12.6 million was co-financed by the European Union.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of Network Rail's permitted development rights on sites of special scientific interest.

Ben Bradshaw: pursuant to the reply, 21 October 2004, Official Report, c. 842W
	The answer given did not reflect the most up-to-date position and should have read as follows.
	No specific assessment has been made. In exercising its statutory functions on SSSIs in England, Network Rail must notify English Nature and unless it follows English Nature's advice, it must minimise any damage and restore the site as far as practical. In Scotland, these are matters for the Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage.

TREASURY

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints were received by the tax credit office in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) 2004; what targets his Department has set for the number of errors reported in tax credit cases next year; what measures his Department is taking to ensure that the number of cases containing errors is reduced; and what compensation will be made to those people whose claims are dealt with incorrectly.

Dawn Primarolo: Details of the accuracy target up to 2004–05 for tax credits claims, renewals (for 2004–05 only) and changes of circumstance appear on page 29 of Inland Revenue's annual report for the year ending 31 March 2004. This can be found on the Department's website, www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk, at about/annual_ reps.htm. The target for 2005–06 has yet to be agreed.
	The Inland Revenue's approach to compensation is set out in Code of Practice 1 "Putting things right". This is also available on the Department's website, at leaflets/c11.htm.

Allowances and Thresholds

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on (a) income to the Treasury and (b) the number of taxpayers in each band, (i) assuming no other changes and (ii) assuming consequential savings in benefits of tax credits, of (A) raising the single person's allowance to (1) £10,000, (2) £15,000 and (3) £20,000, and (B) raising other allowances and thresholds proportionately.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  (b) Change in taxpayer numbers (Thousand) 
			  (a) Cost (£ billion) Starting rate Savers rate Basic rate Higher rate 
		
		
			 (A) (1) PA increased to £10,000 28 -300 120 -4,690 -950 
			 (A) (2) PA increased to £15,000 49 -580 110 -9,540 -1,490 
			 (A) (3) PA increased to £20,000 63 -1,110 50 -13,130 -1,860 
			 (B) (1) PA increased to £10,000 and other allowances and thresholds increased proportionately(1) 45 1,600 -110 -7,320 -2,750 
			 (B) (2) PA increased to £15,000 and other allowances and thresholds increased proportionately(2) 68 2,160 -280 -13,360 -3,130 
			 (B) (3) PA increased to £20,000 and other allowances and thresholds increased proportionately(3) 82 1,470 -430 -17,080 -3,260 
		
	
	(1) The thresholds and allowances were increased by 211 per cent. (£10,000 divided by £4,475—the PA in 2004–05)
	(2) The thresholds and allowances were increased by 316 per cent. (£15,000 divided by £4,475)
	(3) The thresholds and allowances were increased by 421 per cent. (£20,000 divided by £4,475)
	Notes:
	1. The estimates are based upon the Survey of Personal Incomes 2001–02 and are in line with final budget assumptions.
	2. The estimates relate to the year 2004–05.
	There would be no savings from lower tax credits since tax credit entitlement is based on gross income.
	The personal allowance is currently linked to the primary and secondary class 1 national insurance contributions thresholds and the class 4 lower profits limit. No cost has been included to increase these thresholds in line with the personal allowance.
	The figures exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change, which could be significant given the scale of the changes.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the office of Mr. J. Harra, Director, Inland Revenue, Tax Credit Office, Preston (a) to acknowledge without delay letters sent by hon. Members to him on behalf of their constituents and (b) to ensure that substantive replies are sent within 14 days.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 19 October 2004, Official Report, column 583W.

Customs and Excise

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many IT consultants are currently contracted to work for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at Alexandra House, Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are currently 102 IT consultants contracted to work for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at Alexander House, Southend-on-Sea.

Customs and Excise

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the hourly rate of pay is of each IT consultant working on contract to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise does not engage IT Consultancy on an hourly rate basis.

Customs and Immigration Regulations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many sea containers entering each port have been found to be in contravention of British customs and immigration regulations in each year since 2001;
	(2)  what volume of cargo arriving at each airport has been found to be in contravention of British customs and immigration regulations in each year since 2001.

Dawn Primarolo: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise report against the prohibitions and restrictions they enforce in their annual and spring reports, which are available in the Library of the House.
	Information is not held in the format requested. A breakdown of all the possible contraventions of British customs and immigration regulations at ports and airports for the last four years in respect of sea containers and air cargo could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Gambling

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) representations he has received regarding the exemption of and (b) plans he has to exempt regional casinos offering category A machines from EU laws on money laundering.

John Healey: To inform our ongoing negotiations on the third EU Money Laundering Directive, HM Treasury held a wide-ranging consultation which has now closed. Representations have been received from a range of interested parties, including from the casino industry, and we are considering these.

Income Tax Evasion

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of evasion of income tax.

Dawn Primarolo: As tax authorities around the world recognise, the tax gap in relation to tax on income and profits is very difficult to measure, and presently there is no reliable method for estimating it. Nevertheless, the Inland Revenue is continuing to develop methodologies for measuring the tax gap in relation to all direct taxes.

National Minimum Wage

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2004, Official Report, columns 1244–245W, on national minimum wage, what the level of underpayment on the national minimum wage was in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands in each year listed.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not maintain separate records for the areas specified.

Stamp Duty

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residential properties sold in England and Wales during 2003 attracted stamp duty at (a) 0 per cent., (b) 1 per cent., (c) 3 per cent. and (d) 4 per cent.; and what the average price paid for a house during 2003 was in each of those stamp duty bands.

Stephen Timms: The estimate of the number of residential property transactions in each of the stamp duty bands for 2003 and the corresponding average prices are given in the following table. The 0 per cent. band includes transactions between £60,000 and £150,000 in value that have qualified for disadvantaged area relief.
	
		
			 Stamp duty rate (Percentage) Number of residential property transactions (£000) Average price (£000) 
		
		
			 0 350 41 
			 1 731 143 
			 3 102 342 
			 4 21 995

UK Shipping Industry

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of financial concessions to the UK shipping industry through the tonnage tax scheme in financial year 2003–04.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest estimates, for 2002–03 and 2003–04, of the Exchequer cost of the tonnage tax regime can be found on the Inland Revenue's website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/tableb1.pdf.

TRANSPORT

Data Protection

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures are in place (a) to check the criminal records of civil servants in his Department and agencies responsible to his Department, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, who have access to computer databases containing confidential information on the public and (b) to ensure that there can be no improper use of computer databases containing confidential information on the public; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: All DfT and Agency staff, including DVLA, undergo a Basic Check on recruitment, which includes a self-declaration regarding criminal convictions. Human Resources carry out criminal record checks on all DfT posts that require security clearance, and serving staff are required to declare/report any criminal charges/convictions.
	To ensure that there can be no improper use of computer databases containing confidential information on the public, DfT and Agencies enforce the "need to know" principle. Appropriate access controls to systems, comprehensive auditing and tracking are also carried out and staff are instructed on computer misuse policies and made aware of current legislation including the Data Protection Act etc.

Air Cargo

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what volume of cargo has arrived at each British airport in each year since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The amount of freight that has arrived at airports in Great Britain with at least one thousand tonnes of freight arriving each year since 1997 to 2003 is set out in the table.
	
		Freight arrived at airports in Great Britain, 1997–2003 -- Thousand Tonnes
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Heathrow 579 620 649 663 595 627 639 
			 East Midlands 61 60 66 93 99 109 114 
			 Stansted 65 95 92 86 86 98 111 
			 Gatwick 134 137 142 147 131 106 102 
			 Manchester 48 55 61 62 58 64 75 
			 Kent International 1 2 13 20 25 26 34 
			 Prestwick 24 30 33 30 31 28 28 
			 Luton 12 14 14 19 13 14 16 
			 Edinburgh 4 7 8 10 9 12 14 
			 Birmingham 11 11 21 6 7 7 6 
			 Liverpool 7 7 7 8 6 4 3 
			 Glasgow 6 5 5 5 3 2 2 
			 Isle of Man 4 4 2 2 1 1 2 
			 Aberdeen 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 
			 Coventry 4 4 2 2 1 2 1 
		
	
	Source:
	Civil Aviation Authority, http://www.caaerg.co.uk.

Departmental Publications (Accessibility)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of publications issued by his Department are available in (a) Braille, (b) autoprint, (c) large print and (d) easy read format.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department's policy is to make publicity material available in alternative formats on request. Our rationale for this is based on: budgetary considerations; the fact that many publications are for small, specialist audiences; and that all are placed on the DfT website, which complies fully with accessibility standards. This policy means that of 886 DfT titles held at our distribution centre, 14 are in Braille, 15 are audio cassettes and one is large print.
	We also allow anyone to reproduce and distribute our material in alternative formats free of the need for copyright permission.
	For the future, we shall be making all major public consultation documents and white papers available in audio and easy read formats.

Level Crossings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take action to ensure that unmanned pedestrian level crossings of main rail lines are closed where (a) pedestrian usage is low and (b) alternative safe crossings by bridge or tunnel are already available to pedestrians; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: It is for Network Rail, as infrastructure manager, to make applications for orders to close crossings and then for local highway authorities to consider and approve such applications. Highway authorities consider applications for level crossing closures on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport under the Highways Act 1980.
	One of the continuing main aims of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) policy for reducing risks at level crossings is to seek the closure or upgrade of level crossings where this is reasonably practicable; HSE does not support the construction of new level crossings other than in exceptional circumstances. Local people should be consulted on such plans.
	This approach is supported fully by the National Level Crossing Safety Group, which includes HSE, the police, the Rail Safety and Standards Board, Network Rail, railway operators, local authorities, highway authorities and organisations representing level crossing users. Network Rail has produced a level crossing policy and strategy that sets out to reduce the risks associated with level crossings through a variety of methods including a programme of risk assessment to identify reasonably practicable risk reduction measures. Network Rail's overriding principle is to ensure that no new permanent crossings are constructed, other than in exceptional circumstances and it seeks to close existing crossings where this is feasible.

London Bus Drivers

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus drivers employed within the Greater London area were subjected to physical attacks in the last 12 months.

Charlotte Atkins: Over the period 2003–04, there were 1,270 attacks on bus drivers within the Greater London Area. Data on the nature of assaults are not kept.

Overcrowding (Railways)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of risk assessments that have been prepared on overcrowding (a) on train services between Worcestershire and Birmingham and (b) on station platforms in (i) Worcestershire and (ii) Birmingham.

Tony McNulty: Responsibility for the day-to-day safety, welfare and convenience of passengers using the railway and stations rests with Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and Network Rail. Network Rail, which is responsible for Birmingham New Street station, has undertaken a risk assessment at this station. This risk assessment is an internal Network Rail document. As such it is for them to determine whether to disclose its contents.
	No risk assessments have been undertaken for stations in Worcestershire. However as part of its safety monitoring and enforcement responsibilities Her Majesty's Rail Inspectorate (HMRI) has asked Central Trains to provide it with information about how it manages overcrowding risks at stations and on trains. HMRI will write directly to the honourable Gentleman once it has concluded its investigation.

Port Security

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on security inspections undertaken at British sea ports.

David Jamieson: A compliance regime inspection programme is underway to monitor and evaluate compliance with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code that came into force on 1 July 2004.
	Both announced and unannounced inspections are undertaken by Department for Transport Security Directorate (TRANSEC) inspectors to ensure port and ship compliance with the new security requirements.
	It is not our policy to comment in detail on how many or which ports have been inspected, but our current programme of compliance inspection visits covers over 560 UK port facilities.

Potters Bar Rail Crash

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to hold a public inquiry into the Potters Bar rail crash.

Tony McNulty: The Secretary of State expects to be in a position to take a decision on whether or not to hold a public inquiry after the Health and Safety Executive's investigation team has reported its conclusions to the Investigation Board and to him in November 2004 and decisions have been taken on prosecutions.

Rail Franchises

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when decisions will be made on the awarding of the (a) East Coast Mainline and (b) Integrated Kent Franchises; and whether these decisions will be made by the (i) Strategic Rail Authority and (ii) Department for Transport.

Tony McNulty: The information is as follows:
	(a) On 6 October the SRA issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the new InterCity East Coast franchise inviting the four pre-qualified companies to submit detailed bids. An announcement on a Preferred Bidder will be made early next year, (b) Invitations to tender for the Integrated Kent Franchise will be issued to the four pre-qualifying bidders later in the autumn. The franchise is expected to commence in late 2005.
	Decisions on new or replacement franchises are currently taken by the Strategic Rail Authority with regard to the Directions and Guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
	The Rail White Paper, "The Future of Rail", proposes the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority. The strategic and financial responsibilities of the SRA will pass to the Department for Transport. Implementing this will require primary legislation and we will introduce a Bill as soon as parliamentary time permits.

Regional Transport Plans

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost is of producing regional transport plans.

Charlotte Atkins: We do not hold information on the cost of producing regional transport strategies, which are prepared by Regional Planning Bodies as part of Regional Spatial Strategies. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Ship Inspections

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 11 October, Official Report, column 6W, on ship inspections, whether inspections take place to enforce compliance with the International Ship and Port Facilities Code.

David Jamieson: An inspection programme exists to monitor and evaluate compliance with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code. This involves both port facility and ship inspections. Enforcement action, if required would be taken on the basis of the results of the inspection.

Ship Inspections

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 11 October, Official Report, column 6W, on ship inspections, what follow-up action is being taken in respect of those ships issued with non-compliance letters.

David Jamieson: The respective Flag States were informed that control measures had been imposed on their ships. Further enforcement action on such ships has not been necessary because on subsequent return to the UK they have been found to be compliant.

Train Horns

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the Rail Safety and Standards Board review of the use of train horns and noise pollution;
	(2)  in what circumstances the use of train horns will be restricted on approaching unmanned pedestrian level crossings.

Tony McNulty: The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is responsible for specifying the requirements for when and where train horns must be used and Network Rail is responsible for deciding how train operators comply with them. The RSSB's Review concluded with a number of recommendations which come into effect on 6 November 2004.
	The main recommendations are that the minimum permissible level for train horns will be reduced by up to eight decibels and the sounding of train horns when entering a tunnel and at frequent intervals when passing through long tunnels will no longer be necessary.
	It will still be necessary for train drivers to sound horns at all times, day or night, whenever anyone is seen on or near a line on which a train is travelling; when approaching any pedestrian crossings; where shunting movements are taking place and staff may be on the line; during failures of signalling equipment or other degraded operations and in an emergency.
	The sounding of horns between the hours of 2330 and 0700 is not permitted, when drivers are approaching an automatic level crossing or an open level crossing except as an emergency.
	These standards take into account the need to ensure effective safety management whilst also aiming to alleviate the noise disturbance experienced by residents living near railway lines.

Transfer Passengers (Airports)

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many transfer passengers passed through UK airports last year.

Charlotte Atkins: The number of transfer passengers at surveyed UK airports in 2003 was 32 million.
	Transfer passenger statistics for 2003 are available only for those airports where the Civil Aviation Authority ran the Departing Passenger Survey. These were Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Exeter, Gatwick, Heathrow, Liverpool, London City, Luton, Manchester and Stansted. Transfer statistics for some of these airports are for the 2003–04 financial year.

Tsar Appointments

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tsars have been appointed with responsibilities which cover part of the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: None.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Lifts

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  how many lifts there are on the Parliamentary Estate; and how much energy was consumed by these lifts in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what measures are in place to ensure that lifts on the Parliamentary Estate minimise energy use by only moving to a floor when requested to by a user;
	(3)  how many escalators there are on the Parliamentary Estate; how many of these are potentially motion-activated; and how much energy was consumed by escalators in the last year for which figures are available;
	(4)  for what reasons the escalators connecting Portcullis House with the main building are no longer motion-activated.

Archy Kirkwood: There are 66 passenger and heavy goods lifts on the parliamentary estate. The optimal balance between energy efficiency, short waiting times and emergency provision is subject to an engineered solution in each location. There are three escalators on the estate and all have the potential to be motion activated. The escalators at Portcullis House are not currently motion activated for reasons of safety and the high traffic rate during working hours. They change to manual control outside sitting hours. The lifts and escalators do not have individual electricity meters.

WALES

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many antisocial behaviour orders have been breached in Wales in each year since their introduction.

Don Touhig: The available information is given in the following table.
	
		The number of convictions of breach for within Wales, by period, from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2002 1
		
			 Period (by appearance date) Total 
		
		
			 1 June–31 December 2000 0 
			 1 January–31 December 2001 3 
			 1 January–31 December 2002 9 
			 Total 12 
		
	
	(4) Breach data are compiled from breaches reported on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database. Home Office are reviewing the breach methodology and Data for 2003 has yet to be published.
	Note:
	Individuals breaching their ASBO more than once in the same year are counted only once for that year. Individuals breaching more than once, but in different years, are counted separately for each year.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by police area in Wales the number of antisocial behaviour orders in force; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Data are not collected centrally on the number of ASBOs in force at any given time.
	The number issued from 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2004 was as follows:
	
		
			 Magistrates Courts Committee Area Number issued 
		
		
			 Dyfed Powys 16 
			 Gwent 18 
			 North Wales 28 
			 South Wales 52 
			 Total 114

Police Numbers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many police officers there were in Wales in each year since 1996.

Don Touhig: Police officers in Wales in each year since 1996 are as follows:
	
		
			 As at March Police officer numbers in Wales 
		
		
			 1996 6,440 
			 1997 6,592 
			 1998 6,617 
			 1999 6,645 
			 2000 6,633 
			 2001 6,927 
			 2002 7,194 
			 2003 7,268 
			 2004 7,414

Press Releases

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Wales Office has issued the following number of press releases for each month of 2004 thus far:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 January 7 
			 February 3 
			 March 16 
			 April 7 
			 May 7 
			 June 3 
			 July 6 
			 August 1 
			 September 5 
			 October 6 
		
	
	These figures do not include operational notes or contributions to joint press releases with other organisations.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Teenage Pregnancy

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much each local authority in Greater London spent on tackling teenage pregnancy in (a) 1997, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Margaret Hodge: Figures are not available for years before the launch of the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy in 1999. Details of the teenage pregnancy local implementation grant allocated to each local authority in Greater London for 2002–03 and 2003–04 are provided in the following table. Where indicated, figures for 2003–04 include monies to support young parents through the Sure Start Plus pilots operating in authorities with the highest under-18 conception rates.
	
		£
		
			 Local authority Allocation in 2002–03 Allocation in 2003–04 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 70,000 99,000 
			 Barnet 45,000 88,000 
			 Bexley 65,000 92,000 
			 Brent 65,000 106,000 
			 Bromley 45,000 93,000 
			 Camden 50,000 93,000 
			 Croydon 180,000 240,000 
			 Ealing 65,000 103,000 
			 Enfield 95,000 126,000 
			 Greenwich 95,000 142,000 
			 Hackney and City of London 190,000 (5)325,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 63,000 93,000 
			 Haringey 115,000 157,000 
			 Harrow 55,000 84,000 
			 Havering 55,000 95,000 
			 Hillingdon 120,000 150,000 
			 Hounslow 62,000 100,000 
			 Islington 75,000 105,000 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 37,000 82,000 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 38,000 79,000 
			 Lambeth 230,000 (5)386,333 
			 Lewisham 230,000 (5)372,333 
			 Merton 75,000 98,000 
			 Newham 170,000 (5)299,000 
			 Redbridge 55,000 85,000 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 37,000 78,000 
			 Southwark 230,000 (5)377,334 
			 Sutton 65,000 87,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 120,000 (5)236,000 
			 Waltham Forest 70,000 104,000 
			 Wandsworth 110,000 152,000 
			 Westminster 38,000 87,000 
			 Total 3,015,000 4,814,000 
		
	
	(5) Includes allocation for Sure Start Plus pilots

Assertive Discipline

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of assertive discipline.

Stephen Twigg: The Department has not carried out an assessment of the effectiveness of assertive discipline. However, the Key Stage 3 Behaviour and Attendance strand has provided training and support for all secondary and middle schools since September 2003. Schools use an audit tool to identify their key priorities for action and use a range of materials and measures to address these.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the financial contribution that local education authorities made to school funding from council tax in England in 2004–05.

David Miliband: The funding for local authorities is in the form of general revenue grant and covers education, social services, transport, and other local services. It is administered by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The formula takes into account each authority's relative need to spend on each service and each authority's ability to raise resources. The authority decides how much resource to raise locally and what budget to set for each service. The budget for each service is not divided up into central Government resource and council tax.

Education Maintenance Allowances (Ilford, North)

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in Ilford north constituency are receiving education maintenance allowances.

Ivan Lewis: By the end of September 677 young people from the Redbridge local authority area had received an EMA Notice of Entitlement. Of those, 482 had enrolled for EMA at a school or college and 397 had received an EMA payment. These figures continue to improve as those who applied late have had their applications assessed and are enrolled for payment.

Ethnic Minority Pupils

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of pupils attending (a) state and (b) independent schools who are from an ethnic minority.

Stephen Twigg: In January 2004, 16.9 per cent. of pupils (of compulsory school age and above) in maintained primary and secondary schools were classified as minority ethnic origin.
	Information on pupils' ethnic origin is not collected from independent schools.

EU Education Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU (a) the Advisory Committee on veterinary training, (b) the Advisory Committee on training in architecture and (c) the Committee on the second general system for the recognition of professional education and training met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations each Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of each Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There have been no meetings of the EU Advisory Committee on veterinary training or the EU Advisory Committee on training in architecture during the Greek presidency.
	A meeting of the committee established under the second general system for the recognition of professional education and training was held on 25 June 2003 at which technical amendments were discussed. The following amendments to Annex C of that directive were adopted in respect of:
	Germany: change title of "occupational therapist" to "occupational therapist/ergotherapist"
	Italy: delete the profession of "chiropodist"
	Austria: insert the profession of "bookkeeper"
	UK: insert the profession of "listed veterinary nurse".
	A Commission Decision of 28 January 2004 published these amendments in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish an assessment of the implications for traffic levels arising from the implementation of the Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners.

Stephen Twigg: The Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners aims to clarify the context for reform, to set the goals we strive to deliver, and to lay out the priority initiatives to get us there, across the early years, primary and secondary education, adult skills and higher education sectors.
	There are no plans at this stage to publish a detailed assessment of the implications for traffic level arising from the implementation of the Five Year Strategy.
	With regard to schools, we recognise that there may be traffic implications as a result of the new patterns of learning outlined in the strategy and we have already put a number of measures in place to address these. In September 2003, DfES and DfT jointly launched the Travelling to School initiative with the aim of creating conditions which will enable more children to walk, cycle or travel by public transport in safety. By the end of the decade we want every school to draw up a travel plan which, through consultation, identifies the issues of concern—including trips during the school day—and details how and by when these will be addressed.
	DfES and DfT are jointly providing £7.5 million per annum to fund a network of school travel advisers to support schools in developing travel plans. DfES has also allocated up to £20 million pa in capital grants to state funded schools which draw up robust plans, which they can spend on items like lockers and secure cycle storage. In addition, the School Transport Bill, will give the flexibility local authorities require to design travel schemes for the 21st century.

Fixed Term Exclusion Orders

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who is responsible for the education of pupils subject to fixed term exclusion orders.

Stephen Twigg: The governing body of the school that the pupil attends is responsible for ensuring the pupil receives suitable education during the fixed period exclusion. This responsibility is usually discharged by setting work for the pupil to do at home. For longer fixed period exclusions, although schools still have a responsibility to provide education, we expect them to work with the local education authority, where possible, to do this and to plan for the pupil's reintegration into school at the end of the exclusion.

Knives

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assistance he is providing to (a) head teachers and (b) local education authorities to combat the carrying of knives and other bladed weapons in schools; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will review advice given to (a) local education authorities, (b) head teachers and (c) school governors over disciplinary action to be taken over pupils found carrying knives and other bladed weapons in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: My Department's guidance makes it clear that head teachers can permanently exclude pupils for a range of first or one-off offences, including actual or threatened violence and the criminal offence of carrying an offensive weapon on school premises. Police have long-standing powers to enter schools and conduct personal searches of pupils where they have reasonable suspicion that a pupil may be carrying an offensive weapon.
	Over 20 recommendations by the Working Group on School Security on improving school security have been acted on. The group continues to advise DfES. The Department keeps the advice under review and whether further measures would assist in dealing with this problem.

Pupil Exclusions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what schemes are available to assist families of children who have been permanently excluded from school.

Stephen Twigg: The Department funds the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) to provide a telephone helpline for parents of excluded pupils. Some local education authorities have schemes, often delivered through partnership and multi-agency working, to assist the families of children who have been permanently excluded from school. Information on the number and location of such schemes is not held centrally. If the local education authority consider that parenting is a factor in the misbehaviour leading to exclusion, they may provide support to the parent by offering a parenting contract or applying for a parenting order.

Pupil Exclusions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what remedies are available to an independent appeals panel which decides that a pupil has been wrongly excluded from a school.

Stephen Twigg: There are two remedies available to an independent appeal panel if it decides that a pupil has been wrongly excluded. It may direct that he or she is to be reinstated either immediately or by a date specified in the direction, or it may decide that, because of exceptional circumstances or for other reasons, it is not practical to give a direction requiring his or her reinstatement, but that it would otherwise have been appropriate to give such a direction.

Pupil Exclusions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance the Department issues on the education of children with special educational needs who have been permanently excluded from school.

Stephen Twigg: Under the Education Act 1996, local education authorities have a duty, where necessary, to identify, assess and arrange suitable provision to meet the special educational needs of children from their areas for whom they are responsible, whether they are in or out of school. When doing so they must have regard to the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice which gives guidance on meeting children's special educational needs. The Code of Practice is available to those who make provision for excluded children.

School Uniform

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost of providing school uniform and other required clothing is for a child starting (a) primary and (b) secondary school.

Stephen Twigg: The information my hon. Friend has requested is not collected by the Department for Education and Skills.

Sexual Health

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by each local education authority in the Greater London area on promoting responsible sexual behaviour in (a) 1997, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

David Miliband: Information about individual local education authority expenditure on promoting responsible sexual behaviour is not collected by the Department.
	Educating young people about sexual health and safer sex are key elements of the Government's sexual health strategy. The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy has a multi-faceted approach which includes helping young people resist pressure to have early sex, improving sex and relationship education and access to effective contraception and sexual health services.

Truancy

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schoolchildren played truant in schools in East Sussex in each of the past five years; and how many days in total were lost through truancy in the county in each of those years.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 25 October 2004
	The available published information is as follows:
	
		Number of pupils that missed at least a half day session(6) due to unauthorised absence in schools in East Sussex LEA
		
			 Academic Year (September–May) Primary Schools Secondary Schools 
		
		
			 2000 5,491 5,310 
			 2001 5,832 6,310 
			 2002 5,246 7,754 
			 2003 6,089 8,275 
			 2004 7,942 9,000 
		
	
	
		Number of pupils that missed at least a half day session(6) due to authorised absence in schools in East Sussex LEA
		
			 Academic Year (September–May) Primary Schools Secondary Schools 
		
		
			 2000 31,510 23,202 
			 2001 32,054 25,111 
			 2002 31,761 24,976 
			 2003 31,142 24,990 
			 2004 30,131 23,952 
		
	
	
		Number of sessions(6) missed due to unauthorised absence in maintained schools in East Sussex
		
			 Academic Year (September–May) Primary Schools Secondary Schools 
		
		
			 2000 44,513 87,624 
			 2001 47,354 91,736 
			 2002 37,154 111,064 
			 2003 40,528 107,476 
			 2004 53,048 112,206 
		
	
	
		Number of sessions(6) missed due to authorised absence in maintained schools in East Sussex
		
			 Academic Year (September–May) Primary Schools Secondary Schools 
		
		
			 2000 542,361 578,089 
			 2001 579,820 623,361 
			 2002 578,403 631,515 
			 2003 529,910 564,304 
			 2004 465,785 510,926 
		
	
	
		Number of pupils of compulsory school age in East Sussex
		
			 Academic Year (September–May) Primary Schools Secondary Schools 
		
		
			 2000 34,512 25,272 
			 2001 34,776 26,154 
			 2002 34,068 26,689 
			 2003 33,600 27,312 
			 2004 33,069 25,543 
		
	
	(6) A session equates to half a day.

Youth Clubs

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth clubs have been run (a) by local authorities and (b) by voluntary organisations in each of the past seven years.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 1 November 2004
	This information is not held centrally.

HEALTH

New Health Centres

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new health centres linked with sports facilities are being developed under local investment finance trust projects.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not held centrally across all LIFT schemes. The East Lancashire LIFT project has a proposal for a joint Health and Leisure Centre at St. Peter's, in Burnley. I would like to commend my hon. Friend for the commitment and support he has shown to this project, which will transform access to health and leisure services in the centre of Burnley.

Pneumonia Vaccinations

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of pneumonia vaccinations for elderly people.

Stephen Ladyman: The pneumococcal immunisation programme for older adults is being introduced over a three-year period. From April this year, all those aged 75 years and over become eligible to receive the vaccination. From 1 April 2005, the programme will be extended to all people aged 65 years and over.

Smoking

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health's report, "Second-hand Smoke: A Review of Evidence since 1998"; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The SCOTH report will be published alongside the White Paper.

Green Minister

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work undertaken by his Department's Green Minister in the last three months.

Melanie Johnson: As the Department's Green Minister, I have a number of responsibilities that contribute to sustainable development goals. These include tackling health inequalities, healthy eating and physical activity. Our public health consultation, Choosing Health? which ran until the end of June, will also make an important contribution to the sustainable development agenda.

Foundation Hospitals

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the effectiveness of the foundation hospital policy.

John Hutton: The first 20 NHS Foundation Trusts were established in April and July of this year. I am informed by the Chairman of Monitor (whose statutory name is the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) that they are using their freedoms to raise additional capital to invest in improved services for patients.The Healthcare Commission is currently undertaking its review of NHS Foundation Trusts policy. It is our expectation that the report of the outcome of the review will be published next summer.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the number of accident and emergency admissions at the Worcestershire Royal hospital in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The data requested are not collected for individual hospitals.

Zero-star-rated Trusts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the assistance provided to national health service trusts which have received a zero star rating.

John Hutton: Zero star trusts receive support from their Strategic Health Authorities and the Modernisation Agency's Performance Development Team. Some 40 of the 51 trusts who received support improved their star rating. Independent evaluations have confirmed the effectiveness of the support provided, which is focussed mainly on organisational and cultural change.

Pharmacists

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he plans for pharmacists in (a) promoting health care and (b) providing information to patients.

Rosie Winterton: The new contractual framework for community pharmacists, subject to a ballot of contractors, should go live from April 2005. Nationally, it comprises a range of services which all pharmacists will provide, including helping patients make better use of medicines through repeat dispensing, promoting public health, providing information and support to patients, as well as signposting them to other healthcare providers. Primary care trusts will be able to commission a range of additional services from community pharmacists to meet specific patient needs locally.

Breast Cancer

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for radiotherapy treatment for people diagnosed with breast cancer for each strategic health authority.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 1 November 2004
	Data on waiting times for radiotherapy are not collected centrally. The national health service cancer plan set out maximum waiting time targets for cancer treatment, which may include radiotherapy where this is given as a first definitive treatment. From December 2001, there is a one month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and from 2002, there is a maximum two month wait from urgent referral to treatment for breast cancer. Both these targets are being achieved for 97 per cent. of patients. Further information on cancer waiting times performance is available on the Department's website at www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/.
	To tackle radiotherapy waiting times, we are increasing the numbers of therapy radiographers in post and in training, making better use of existing staff, making unprecedented investment in new radiotherapy equipment and streamlining the patient journey.

Charity Food Labelling

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce regulations requiring mandatory labelling on homemade cakes, biscuits and jams sold in aid of charity; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: There are no such plans.

Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage (a) of all patients, (b) of patients aged 65 years and over and (c) of patients with mental health problems were seen and treated within four hours at the Chesterfield and north Derbyshire Royal Hospital's Accident and Emergency department, in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The information is shown in the following tables. However, this data has only been collected centrally by the Department since 2002–03. It should be noted that the information in relation to patients over 65, or for patients with mental health problems is not collected centrally.
	
		Chesterfield and north Derbyshire Royal Hospital National Health Service Trust—Major accident and emergency
		
			 Year(7) Quarter Total attendances Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in A&E 
		
		
			 2002–03 2 14,029 83.1 
			 2002–03 3 12,791 86.3 
			 2002–03 4 12,963 94.2 
			 2003–04 1 14,760 91.6 
			 2003–04 2 15,152 91.0 
			 2003–04 3 13,681 91.4 
			 2003–04 4 13,690 95.2 
			 2004–05 1 15,209 96.0 
		
	
	
		All A&E/minor injuries units/walk in centres
		
			 Year(7) Total attendances Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in A&E 
		
		
			 2003–04 14,760 91.6 
			 2003–04 15,152 91.0 
			 2003–04 13,681 91.4 
			 2003–04 13,690 95.2 
			 2004–05 15,209 96.0 
		
	
	(7) Data against the four hour A&E performance target has only been collected since quarter 2 in 2002–03. Quarterly data, rather than annual information, has therefore been provided.

Civil Servants

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of continuous service for civil servants within the Department is.

Rosie Winterton: The average length of continuous service for civil servants within the Department and its agencies is nine years.

Complementary Therapies

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he will take of recent statements by the right hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) on complementary therapies when developing policy on health care.

Melanie Johnson: I always take account of the comments of my right hon. Friend. National health service access to complementary therapies is at the discretion of individual trusts and clinicians.

Dentistry

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is registered with the general dental service.

Rosie Winterton: At 31 August 2004, the latest data available, registrations with general dental service dentists in the Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust (PCT) area were 36.7 per cent. of the population in the PCT area. People may attend a dental surgery in a different area from the one in which they live.

Dentistry

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of dentists treating NHS patients in Heywood and Middleton.

Rosie Winterton: Each Primary Care Trust has been asked to draw up an action plan setting out how they are using their proportion of the £59 million additional funding we have allocated to improve access to NHS dentistry. Heywood and Middleton PCT has been allocated £83,000, which will improve access for at least 5,000 new patients this year.

Geriatric Hospital Beds

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on providing geriatric hospital beds covering the Greater London area; how many geriatric beds there are in such hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The provision of hospital beds is for local determination by strategic health authorities (SHAs) with primary care trusts and national health service providers. Information on the number of geriatric beds within the London SHA areas is shown in the table.
	
		Average daily number of available beds in the geriatric sector—SHAs in London, 2003–04
		
			 Org. ID Name Number 
		
		
			  England 27,431 
			 Q04 North West London SHA 795 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 939 
			 Q06 North East London SHA 911 
			 Q07 South East London SHA 796 
			 Q08 South West London SHA 657 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03, published 15 October 2004.

Health Education

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that school children develop a thorough knowledge of healthy eating and living.

Stephen Twigg: I have been asked to reply.
	Children learn about healthy eating and living through a range of National Curriculum subjects, principally Food Technology, Science, Personal, Social and Health Education and Physical Education.
	In September 2004 schools received a Healthy Living Blueprint, a practical guide on promoting healthy living including using the full capacity and flexibility of the curriculum. The Blueprint and a supporting web portal bring together for schools the range of Government and non-Government initiatives and support which contribute to healthy lifestyles.

Heart Disease

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Department has to introduce national guidance on diet and lifestyle to combat heart disease.

Melanie Johnson: In March 2000, the Department published the national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD), which set out modern standards and service models for the national health service for the prevention and treatment of CHD. The White Paper on improving health, due for publication later this year, will also contribute to the prevention and treatment of CHD.

Hospices (Greater London)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support the Government are giving to hospices in the Greater London area.

Stephen Ladyman: There is no centrally collated information on how much money the national health service gives to hospices. The level of NHS funding provided to local hospices is a matter for discussion and agreement between the hospice and the appropriate primary care trust.
	The Government pledged in the NHS Cancer Plan (2000) to increase NHS investment in specialist palliative care, including hospices, by an extra £50 million per annum by 2004. This pledge has been met. Working in partnership with all local stakeholders, including those in the voluntary sector, each cancer network has drawn up and agreed plans for the use of their allocation from the £50 million. The national partnership group for palliative care assessed all local plans and is now monitoring the use of this funding. The £50 million represents an increase of nearly 40 per cent., in the amount of funding provided by the NHS for specialist palliative care over 2000 levels.

Hospital Infections

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on hospital-acquired infections.

John Hutton: We are actively implementing the plans set out in "Winning Ways and Towards Cleaner Hospitals". Once these measures, particularly the new target to reduce MRSA blood stream infections year on year, start to have an impact we expect to see infection rates decline.

Hospital Infections

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the variation in rates of hospital-acquired infection between hospitals.

John Hutton: The only information which is collected across all of the NHS is for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections. Rates are generally highest in specialist trusts. This is not surprising as these trusts are likely to have more vulnerable patients and undertake more invasive and high-risk specialist care.

Medicines (Children and Infants)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for introducing a revised version of the British National Formulary for children.

Rosie Winterton: The British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, who produce the British National Formulary (BNF), expect the first edition of the BNF for children to be available during the summer of 2005.

Mental Health

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been referred to Hillingdon Mental Health Trust from Heathrow airport in each of the last three years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mental Health

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his Department's policy to increase provision of community care for mentally ill mothers with babies; and if he will make a statement on the introduction of home treatment teams.

Rosie Winterton: Specialised perinatal psychiatric services, including the provision of mother and baby units, have been considered by an expert group chaired by the national director for mental health and the conclusions from that group are expected to be published early in the new year.
	Local delivery plans produced by strategic health authorities show that they have plans to establish 335 crisis resolution teams in England by the end of 2004. These teams are designed to respond quickly to people in crisis to provide assessment and treatment wherever they are, and prevent unnecessary admissions to psychiatric in-patient care.

Midwives

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy rate is for midwives for each hospital trust.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2004
	Information on the rate of vacancies lasting three months or more for midwives in each national health service trust has been placed in the Library.

Myasthenia Gravis

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received on (a) the diagnosis, treatment and management of myasthenia gravis and (b) support for patients and carers; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Myasthenia gravis is a neurological condition, characterised by fluctuating levels of muscle weakness. There is no cure, but treatment includes medication, surgery and palliation.
	The national service framework for long term conditions will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions. While the framework will not cover myasthenia gravis specifically, it will recommend improvements in standards, care and support that will benefit everyone with a neurological condition.
	We are committed to publishing the framework as soon as possible.
	It is for health authorities, in partnership with other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to provide health services for their populations, including those with myasthenia gravis.

NHS

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on NHS administration in each year since 1980 in real terms.

John Hutton: Real terms expenditure on administration in the national health service was not collected prior to 1996. Expenditure from then is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS administration costs (£ million) NHS total expenditure England (£ million) Percentage of NHS administration costs as a proportion of total NHS expenditure 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,150 34,664 6.2 
			 1998–99 2,180 36,608 6.0 
			 1999–2000(8) — 39,981 — 
			 1999–2000(9) 2,261 40,201 5.6 
			 2000–01 2,315 43,932 5.3 
			 2001–02 2,625 49,021 5.3 
			 2002–03 (10)— — — 
			 2003–04(11) 2,489 63,667 3.9 
		
	
	(8) Expenditure pre 1999–2000 is on a cash basis.
	(9) Expenditure tables from 1999–2000 to 2002–03 are on a Stage 1 resource budgeting basis (and consistent with figures published in table 3.4a of the Departmental Report 2004).
	(10) Not available.
	(11) Expenditure for 2003–04 is on a stage 2 resource budgeting basis (and consistent with figures published in table 3.4b of the Departmental Report 2004).

NHS

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the functioning of the NHS Bursary Department (a) hotline, (b) e-mail system and (c) correspondence facility and how many letters of complaint he has received on this issue.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2004
	The NHS Pensions Agency student grants unit deals with very high volumes of inquiries from students, universities and other organisations. The unit's work is seasonal by nature peaking from June to October. Throughout the majority of the year, the unit deals effectively with all customer inquiries but they acknowledge that during their busiest period many callers have had difficulty contacting them within a reasonable time.
	Work is ongoing to improve the unit's customer service both in the short and long term. This includes extra helplines to deal specifically with clinical placement travel claims, disabled student allowances and the new child care allowance. In addition, a new website has been set up where a dedicated team will answer frequently asked questions.
	Between April and September, the unit processed 41 complaints.

NHS

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to determine whether patients may (a) opt out of and (b) anonymise entries in the national programme for IT in the NHS.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2004
	Good clinical management requires that healthcare professionals keep a record of key information about their patients and about individual treatment episodes. The national programme for information technology is incorporating stringent security controls and safeguards that will mean patients have more control over who has access to their information than is possible with existing systems. A fundamental principle in the implementation of the national health service care records service (NHS CRS) is that confidentiality and privacy of sensitive patient information must not be compromised.
	Patients will have the right to specify that detailed information recorded at the point of contact with the NHS should not be available to other NHS organisations via the summary record held on their NHS care record. They will also have the right to define some information as especially sensitive and only accessible under terms of explicit consent. This reinforces the key statutory safeguards set out in the Data Protection Act 1998, with which all information users must comply. These facilities have been designed in to the NHS CRS.
	The Data Protection Act also provides patients with a right, where they are suffering substantial damage or distress, to object to processing of their data, including to prevent their data being held at all in an identifiable form, though this is expected to be a very rare event. We are currently considering how this right should apply to implementation of the NHS care record.

NHS

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average amount of NHS spending per head of population of people living in the Greater London area has been in each of the last three years.

Stephen Ladyman: Figures are shown in the table which relate to expenditure by national health service bodies which were, or are, within the five existing London strategic health authority (SHA) areas.
	
		Expenditure per weighted head of population
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 951.36 
			 2002–03 1,050.14 
			 2003–04 1,200.57 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority (HA) accounts and primary care trust (PCT) summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the relevant HAs and the commissioner costs of the PCT.
	2. The total NHS expenditure cannot be identified by health authority area, because the majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the individual health authority accounts or PCT summarisation schedules and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. The majority of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by HAs or PCTs.
	3. Figures for 2002–03 and 2003–04, based on strategic health authority (SHA) areas, have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare.
	Sources:
	Audited HA summarisation forms 2001–02.
	Audited SHA summarisation forms 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	Audited PCT summarisation schedules 2001–02 to 2003–04.
	Weighted population figures.
	2003–04 data remains provisional.

Organ Transplants

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died waiting for an organ transplant in each year since the organ donation register began.

Rosie Winterton: Details of the number of patients dying while registered for an organ transplant in the United Kingdom during each 12 month period since the start of the national health service organ donor register is shown in the table.
	
		
			 As at October Number who died while on list 
		
		
			 1994–95 502 
			 1995–96 555 
			 1996–97 537 
			 1997–98 539 
			 1998–99 536 
			 1999–2000 495 
			 2000–01 460 
			 2001–02 425 
			 2002–03 406 
			 2003–04 380 
			 Total 4,835

Over-30-months Scheme

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the over-30-months scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the over-30-months scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Assembly Government regarding the over-30-months scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the Meat and Livestock Commission regarding the over-30-months scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Government are considering the Food Standards Agency's advice on the over-30-months rule and an announcement will be made in due course.
	The Department has not discussed the over-30-months rule with the Meat and Livestock Commission.

Powered Wheelchairs

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many powered wheelchairs were issued by the national health service in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Radiotherapy

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio is of radiotherapy machines to population in each strategic health authority area; and what the average waiting time is for radiotherapy treatment in each of those areas.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 1 November 2004
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	The ratios ignore the significant patient flows across strategic health authority (SHA) boundaries. The SHA populations are not directly related to the populations served by specific radiotherapy centres.
	
		
			 SHA Linacs(12) per million in 2004–05 
		
		
			 Norfolk Suffolk and Cambs. 5.1 
			 Beds. and Herts. 5.0 
			 Essex 3.7 
			 N W London 3.4 
			 N C London 8.2 
			 N E London 4.5 
			 S E London 3.3 
			 S W London 6.9 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 5.1 
			 County Durham Tees Valley 3.5 
			 N and E Yorks. and N Lincs. 1.9 
			 W Yorks 4.3 
			 Cumbria and Lancs. 4.2 
			 Greater Manchester 4.8 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 3.8 
			 Thames Valley 3.4 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 5.1 
			 Kent and Medway 3.8 
			 Surrey and Sussex 3.5 
			 Avon, Gloucs. and Wilts. 5.6 
			 S W Peninsula 5.7 
			 Dorset and Somerset 3.4 
			 S Yorks. 5.5 
			 Trent 3.8 
			 Leics. Northants and Rutland 4.5 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 4.0 
			 Birmingham and Black Country 5.3 
			 West Midlands South 3.2 
		
	
	(12) Linac = Linear accelerator.
	Data on waiting times for radiotherapy are not collected centrally. The national health service cancer plan set out maximum waiting time targets for cancer treatment, which may include radiotherapy where this is given as a first definitive treatment. From December 2001, there is a one month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and a one month wait from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment for children's cancers, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia. From 2002, there is a maximum two month wait from urgent referral to treatment for breast cancer. By 2005, there will be a maximum two month wait from urgent referral to treatment and a maximum one-month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for all cancers.

Silzone Heart Valves

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take measures to ensure that cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists maintain long-term follow-up with the recipients of Silzone heart valves.

Melanie Johnson: It is established clinical practice to maintain regular follow-up appointments with all patients receiving heart valve replacements, both in the short and long-term.

Skipton Fund

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what criteria have been developed for the appointment process of the directors of the Skipton Fund; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the term of office is for the directors of the Skipton Fund once they have been appointed; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether, when the Skipton Fund was established, its directors were drawn from the Macmillan Fund; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  from what backgrounds the directors of the Skipton Funds have been recruited.

Melanie Johnson: Three trustees and the chairman and chief executive of the Macfarlane Trust were asked to take on the role of directors and company secretary for the Skipton Fund on an interim basis. This decision was made so that we could make progress with establishing the Skipton Fund. The trustees have a background in management, administration and working with haemophilia patients.
	We have been seeking advice about the recruitment of directors to the Skipton Fund on a more permanent basis.

Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department (a) has undertaken and (b) plans to undertake to comply with the Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order 2003.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is committed to purchasing up to 100 per cent. green energy, where possible, for its buildings and replacing boilers with more energy-efficient models as the need arises. The anticipated reduction in the departmental estate in 2005 will reduce energy consumption.

Transport (Rural Areas)

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the transport needs of patients living in rural areas will be addressed within the Health and Social Care Standards and Planning Framework including in individual national service frameworks.

Melanie Johnson: "Standards for Better Health", the first ever set of national health care standards for all health care provided under the national health service, published as part of "The Health and Social Care Standard and Planning framework" in July 2004, requires that:
	" . . . health care organisations enable all members of the population to access services equally and offer choice in access to services and treatment equitably".
	In addition, the standards, which all health care organisations are expected to meet, requires existing national targets for ambulance services to be maintained beyond April 2005. Primary care trusts are responsible for providing or securing the provision of ambulance services, which could include patient transport services, for their local populations. It is, therefore, for the local NHS to decide how these services are provided.
	From April 2005, the independent Healthcare Commission will calculate and award a rating for NHS organisations, including ambulance trusts, which will cover an assessment of their performance against the health care standards.
	To support implementation of the national service framework for renal services, two projects, one rural and one urban, are being established which will focus on improving patient transport services for renal dialysis patients.

Waiting Times/Lists

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many primary care trusts and in what proportions (a) there were higher numbers of patients waiting for in-patient treatment for (i) between six and nine months and (ii) between nine and 12 months and (b) the (iii) mean and (iv) median waiting times were higher.

John Hutton: There are no primary care trusts (PCTs) in which the number, or proportion, of nine to 12 month waiters is greater than the number of six to nine month waiters.
	Information showing the estimated inpatient mean and median waiting time in weeks by England and PCT for August 2004 has been placed in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

EU Membership

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral Answer of 27 October to the right hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard), what the evidential basis is for his assertion that millions of jobs depend on UK membership of the EU; and how many millions of jobs so depend.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) by my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Mr. MacShane) on 5 July 2004, Official Report, column 594W.

Ministerial Residences

Charles Hendry: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers were provided with official residences in financial years (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) of 28 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1443–44W and 5 June 2000, Official Report, columns 49–50W.
	Since my answer of 28 February 2002, the then President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Cook) vacated his official residence (Carlton Gardens) in spring 2003. The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Hoon) was allocated an official residence (Flat 3, Admiralty House) in the summer of 2002.
	The Deputy Prime Minister also has the use of Dorneywood.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Beach Safety

Annette Brooke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 25 October 2004, Official Report, column 1075W, on beach safety, who is responsible for beach safety in a given local authority area.

Phil Hope: Beach safety and management is generally at the discretion of the owner of the beach, whether it be a private owner or a local authority. The owner or occupier may have certain responsibilities under the common law such as laws of negligence, or under statute, such as laws concerning occupier's liability or health and safety at work. A local authority also has a power to make byelaws under the public health legislation relating to public bathing and to the use of pleasure boats. The Health and Safety executive or a local authority is the enforcing authority for certain Health and Safety matters in relation to some beach activities.

Fire Control Centre (South-West)

Candy Atherton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether a building design has been commissioned in relation to a regional fire control centre for the south-west.

Nick Raynsford: A building design has been commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with regional input. The need for national resilience calls for a single basic design which, in turn, will bring economies of scale. Local variations will result from differences between sites, the need to fit in with local planning requirements and options for internal aesthetics.
	The design has been developed with input from control room staff and presented to a wide range of stakeholders, including existing control room staff, and has been subject to independent peer review. Further details are available at the FiReControl website, which is in the public domain (www.firecontrol.odpm.gov.uk).

Land Sales

Huw Edwards: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities have applied for Article 4 directives with respect to subdivision and sale of (a) agricultural land, (b) woodlands and (c) meadows.

Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. An informal survey of Government Offices for the Regions, prior to the hon. Member's Adjournment Debate of 12 October on the Sale of Woodland, suggested that the South-East and the West Midlands are at present the two regions where Article 4 directions are most commonly used to deal with unacceptable development associated with plot-sales and subdivision of rural land.

Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to make payments through the local government settlement to compensate local authorities in growth areas as a result of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme making no allowance for population growth.

Nick Raynsford: The Government are currently exploring options to make the local government finance settlement more forward looking. Using projected data for population, for example, would benefit high population growth areas.

Mobile Phone Masts

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements are in place to seek the views of the public before planning permission for mobile phone masts is given; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Current planning guidance for all electronic communication developments is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised) (PPG8). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also issued a Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development.
	When the Government published PPG8 we strengthened public consultation requirements for prior approval for mast proposals of 15 m and below and for masts on buildings and structures so that they are exactly the same as applications for planning permission.
	The statutory requirements for public consultation require that as a minimum, authorities have to notify neighbours directly or place a notice on or near the site. Representations should be made within 21 days. It is, of course, open to authorities both to notify neighbours and to post a site notice if they consider it appropriate to do so. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's approach is to give local planning authorities the flexibility to decide the most suitable method of publicity in each case.
	Apart from the statutory minimum, advice is also given to local planning authorities to consider what other methods of publicity are available for attracting a wider audience. Local planning authorities should consider whether the press, local amenity societies and residents' associations should be made aware of proposed developments.
	Guidance also underlines that school governors must be consulted on proposals for new masts on or near a school.
	Outside designated areas licensed operators are authorised under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to install specified small scale apparatus without the need to make a planning application to the local authority. However, simply because these small developments do not need planning permission it does not mean that there is no public consultation. The Code of Best Practice that was produced jointly by central and local government and the mobile phone industry is clear that operators will assess every potential site and rate it using the "Traffic Light Model". The Traffic Light Model allows a site to be rated according to its likely sensitivity in terms of environmental, planning and community considerations. This model determines the level of public consultation that will be required if the site is selected for the installation.

Pension Funds (Suffolk)

Richard Spring: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the (a) Suffolk county council and (b) Forest Heath district council pension funds are in (i) surplus and (ii) deficit; and by how much.

Phil Hope: The most recent actuarial valuation report of the Suffolk county council pension fund showed that its assets represented 83 per cent. of their accrued liabilities as at 31 March 2001. The contribution rate for participating employers, set by the fund actuary for the triennial period ending 31 March 2005, has been certified as being sufficient to ensure the on-going solvency of the fund. The results of the 2004 valuation exercise are not available.
	Forest Heath district council is not responsible for a pension fund although it contributes as an employer to the fund administered by Suffolk county council.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders in England; and which local authority area each covers.

Keith Hill: The pathfinders cover sub-regional housing markets, which straddle parts of two or more local authority areas. The nine pathfinder areas cover parts of the following local authorities:
	
		
			 Pathfinder Local authorities 
		
		
			 Birmingham and Sandwell Birmingham city council and Sandwell Metropolitan borough council 
			 East Lancashire Blackburn with Darwen borough council, Hyndburn borough council, Burnley borough council, Pendle borough council and Rossendale borough council. 
			 Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire(13) Hull city council and East Riding of Yorkshire 
			 Manchester and Salford; Manchester city council and Salford city council 
			 Merseyside Liverpool city council, Sefton council and Wirral Metropolitan borough council 
			 Newcastle and Gateshead; Newcastle city council and Gateshead council 
			 North Staffordshire Stoke city council, Newcastle under Lyme borough council and Staffordshire Moorlands district council 
			 Oldham and Rochdale; Oldham council and Rochdale Metropolitan borough council 
			 South Yorkshire Sheffield city council, Barnsley Metropolitan borough council, Rotherham council and Doncaster Metropolitan borough council 
		
	
	(13) The Hull and East Riding pathfinder covers Hull City only.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what compensation central Government will make to local authorities for the extra costs of (a) the introduction of regional spatial strategies and (b) the consequent revision of existing local strategies.

Keith Hill: In recognition of the initial additional cost of the introduction of regional spatial strategies and the consequent revision of existing local strategies, total funding for regional planning bodies (RPBs) was raised from £9,150,000 in 2003–04 to £12,987,000 in 2004–05. This significant increase was in recognition of the pivotal role that RPBs would play within the new planning system and the additional statutory responsibilities that would be placed on them by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act.
	Planning Delivery Grant was introduced in 2003–04 providing £350 million over three years, 2003–06, to help local authorities to improve and importantly move in to the new planning system of local development frameworks. 2004–05 is the second year of the grant and £130 million has been distributed to regional planning bodies and local authorities, in 2005–06 planning delivery grant will total £170 million. A further £255 million has been identified for the financial years 2006–07 and 2007–08.

Special Advisers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many unpaid special advisers the Department has; what their names are; and which Government (a) bodies, (b) committees and (c) strategy groups each unpaid adviser (i) belongs to, (ii) advises and (iii) works alongside.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Ruth Kelly) on 28 October 2004, Official Report, column. 1380W.

Traveller Sites

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for new legislation on illegally encamped traveller sites in England; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: There are no plans for further legislation relating to unauthorised encampments at this time, however the final version of the joint Office of the Deputy Prime Minister/Home Office guidance document, "Managing Unauthorised Camping" will be published in the near future. The Government have also introduced amendments into the Housing Bill with the intention of increasing the availability of sites for Gypsies and Travellers, which will help to reduce unauthorised camping. New Regulations will also be introduced shortly which will prescribe circumstances when temporary stop notices may be used to prevent illegal encampments.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Motor Vehicle Registration Plates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were for failure to display a motor vehicle registration plate in the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by police authority area.

Caroline Flint: The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not separately identify the specific offence of failure to display a motor vehicle registration plate.

Animal Rights Extremists

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department gives police forces regarding the use of the law on criminal conspiracy in relation to the activities of animal rights extremists; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Home Office provides no specific guidance to the police on the use of the offence of criminal conspiracy in relation to the activities of animal rights extremists. However the Association of Chief Police Officers has produced a good practice guide for policing animal rights extremism including information on all the relevant legislation. Forces can also seek advice and support on tackling Animal Rights Extremism from the National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit.

Animal Testing

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the classification of animal testing procedures as (a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) substantial severity, with particular reference to their effect on animals.

Caroline Flint: The classification of severity limits to be applied to the protocols of licensed scientific procedures using animals is described in the publication entitled Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This was presented to Parliament on 23 March 2000 (HC 321—a copy will be in the Library).
	For ease of reference the following is a relevant extract from the publication:
	Protocol Severity Limits
	5.40 The severity limit for each protocol is determined by the upper limit of the expected adverse effects that may be encountered by a protected animal, taking into account the measures specified in the licence for avoiding and controlling adverse effects. It represents the worst potential outcome for any animal subjected to the protocol, even if it may only be experienced by a small number of the animals to be used.
	5.41 In assessing the severity limit of a protocol, account should be taken of the effect of all the procedures (whether regulated or not) applied to each animal or group of animals; the nature and extent of the likely adverse effects; the action taken to mitigate these effects; and the humane endpoints to be applied.
	5.42 The severity limits of the protocols in the licence are categorised as follows:
	Unclassified
	Protocols performed entirely under general anaesthesia, from which the animal does not recover consciousness. This includes the preparation and use of decerebrated animals.
	Mild
	Protocols that, at worst, give rise to slight or transitory minor adverse effects. Examples include: small infrequent blood samples; skin irritation tests with substances expected to be non-irritant or only mildly irritant; minor surgical procedures under anaesthesia such as small superficial tissue biopsies or cannulation of peripheral blood vessels. However, if used in combination or repeated in the same animal, the cumulative severity may be increased beyond mild. Protocols may also be regarded as mild if they have the potential to cause greater suffering but contain effective safeguards to initiate effective symptomatic or specific treatment or terminate the protocol before the animal shows more than minor adverse effects.
	Moderate
	Protocols regarded as moderate include toxicity tests (which do not involve lethal endpoints) and many surgical procedures (provided that suffering is controlled and minimised by effective post-operative analgesia and care). Protocols that have the potential to cause greater suffering but include controls which minimise severity, or terminate the protocol before the animal shows more than moderate adverse effects, may also be classed within the moderate severity limit.
	Substantial
	Protocols that may result in a major departure from the animal's usual state of health or well-being. These include: acute toxicity procedures where significant morbidity or death is an endpoint; some efficacy tests of anti-microbial agents and vaccines; major surgery; and some models of disease, where welfare may be seriously compromised. If it is expected that even one animal would suffer substantial effects, the procedure would merit a 'substantial' severity limit.
	The Secretary of State will not license any procedure likely to cause severe pain or distress that cannot be alleviated [Section IO(2A)].
	The use of severity limits and bands (relating to whole licensed projects, as also described in the published Guidance) is currently being considered by the Animal Procedures Committee, who have been asked to see whether any changes might usefully be made.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for The Home Department whether he intends to review the working of anti-social behaviour order legislation following the High Court decision in the case involving the press road crew; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We are committed to issuing further guidance on anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) following the judgement in the Stanley v. London Borough of Brent/Metropolitan Police Judicial Review. We are also looking into ending automatic reporting restrictions for people under 18 who breach their ASBOs, as set out in our Strategic Plan published in July this year.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in the Workington constituency.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 21 October 2004
	Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been available to the courts since 1 April 1999. From commencement, up to 31 March 2004 (latest available), the Home Office has been notified of four ASBOs issued where restrictions imposed are specific to the Allerdale borough council area, in which the constituency of Workington is located.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been breached (a) once, (b) twice and (c) on three or more occasions since the inception of ASBOs; and in how many cases breaches have been dealt with by way of (i) conditional discharge and (ii) a custodial sentence;
	(2)  how many breaches in antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) on (a) a second occasion and (b) a third or later occasion have been dealt with by way of (i) a conditional discharge, (ii) a community sentence other than a conditional discharge and (iii) a custodial sentence in each year since the inception of ASBOs.

Hazel Blears: The information is not available in the form requested. However, of the 855 antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) notified to the Home Office as being issued between 1 June 2000 and 31 December 2002, 305 were breached, within the same period, on one or more than one occasion. As a result, 152 persons were given a custodial sentence, 93 received community sentences, and 60 received other sentences of which four received a conditional discharge. The sentence counted is the severest across all breaches.

Binge Drinking

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Department has made of the effectiveness of anti-binge drinking campaigns.

Hazel Blears: The Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign ran for eight consecutive weekends over the summer period. It was the first step in sending a strong signal that the irresponsible sale and consumption of alcohol will not be tolerated. The campaign provided a clear picture of where we need to focus our efforts and it made significant progress in supporting police and partners in making our streets safe. Data were captured in order to monitor the use of tactics and to establish a baseline for further work. The effectiveness of the campaign was also measured by feedback from participating areas and has been compiled in a 'Lessons Learned' document that will be published shortly.

Child Protection

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to ensure that young children taken abroad are accounted for when their parents or guardians return to this country; and what checks are made.

Chris Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
	There are currently no routine checks in place to monitor the return of young children travelling overseas with their parents or guardians.

Community Support Officers

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the figures from the evaluation of the Metropolitan Police Service's participation in the Community Support Officer detention power pilot were for (a) the average length of detentions, (b) the number of instances in which the 30 minute period was exceeded, (c) the number of instances in which the detainee had to be released because the time limit had been reached, (d) the outcome at the end of each detention and (e) the total number of times the power was used.

Hazel Blears: The information is as follows:
	(a) During the pilot, detentions were recorded in seven bands ranging from one to five minutes to over 30 minutes. The distribution was as follows:
	
		
			 Duration (minutes) number of detentions percentage 
		
		
			 1–5 5 3.6 
			 6–10 54 39.1 
			 11–15 7 5.1 
			 16–20 47 34.1 
			 21–25 1 0.7 
			 26–30 19 13.8 
			 30 5 3.6 
			 Total 138 100 
		
	
	(b) As shown in the table, the 30 minute period was exceeded in five cases.
	(c) The detainees had to be released because the time limit was exceeded in two cases
	(d) The outcomes at the end of each detention were as follows. There were 75 arrests by a police officer. 31 were released after the arrival of a police officer, 28 were released after giving a satisfactory name and address, two were released because the time limit had been reached and two absconded.
	(e) The detention power was used 138 times during the pilot.

Correspondence

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central dated (a) 6 May, regarding Mr. O. K. A., ref PO5195/4, (b) 2 July, regarding Mr. A. O. ref PO7752/4, (c) 19 July, regarding Mr. A. T. ref T1078617 and (d) 3 August, regarding Ms. F. O. H., ref PO8969/4.

Des Browne: The information is as follows.
	(a) I replied to my hon. Friend's letter of 6 May on 1 November.
	(b) I replied to my hon. Friend's letter of 2 July on 8 July.
	(c) I wrote to my hon. Friend on 4 August. A duplicate letter has been sent on 14 October.
	(d) My hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) replied to my hon. Friend's letter of 3 August on 11 October.

Council of Ministers

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a Written Ministerial Statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which his Department is represented in advance of each meeting.

Caroline Flint: This is a useful suggestion and Her Majesty's Government will consider it further, in line with its policy of keeping Parliament better informed on EU business.

CPS

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of trials in Merseyside courts resulted in a conviction in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of (a) domestic violence and (b) homophobic crime trials in Merseyside courts resulted in a conviction in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The following table gives the number of defendants who were proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for all offences in the Merseyside Police Force area, 2002:
	
		Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for all offences in the Merseyside police force area 2002 1
		
			  
		
		
			 Proceeded against 57,072 
			 Found guilty 44,126 
			 Conviction rate(15) (percentage) 77 
		
	
	(14) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(15) Proportion of defendants proceeded against who were found guilty.
	Offences involving domestic violence and homophobia are not identifiable on the Home Office Court Proceedings database as no specific statute covers such offences. Prosecutions brought might range from common assault to homicide depending on the level of violence, and as the circumstances of the offences for which prosecutions are brought are not collected centrally, offences involving domestic violence and homophobia cannot be distinguished from other offences within these categories.
	Statistics for 2003 will be published on 18 November.

Crime

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been for antisocial behaviour in (a) Taunton and (b) Avon and Somerset Police Force area in each year since 2000.

Hazel Blears: Information on convictions is available by offence, of which some may have involved antisocial behaviour. Such circumstances are not identified by the Home Office Court Proceedings database.

Crime

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) drug offences, (b) thefts from vehicles and (c) burglaries were recorded in the last 12 months in Coventry, South.

Hazel Blears: The latest available information relates to 2003–04 and is for the Coventry Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. There were 869 drug offences, 3,843 thefts from vehicles and 5,846 burglaries recorded by the police in the Coventry CDRP area.

Crime

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for The Home Department how many (a) violent crimes, (b) thefts from vehicles, (c) burglaries and (d) drug offences were recorded by the Metropolitan Police force for the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		Offences recorded by the Metropolitan Police—2003–04
		
			  Number of offences 
		
		
			 Violent crimes 237,028 
			 Theft from vehicles 103,899 
			 Burglaries 105,361 
			 Drug offences 32,332

Crime

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of (a) burglary, (b) violent crime and (c) car crime was in (i) East Somerset District and (ii) Avon and Somerset in each year from 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the tables. Information is available for calendar years until 1997 and on a financial year basis thereafter. Information at the local level relates to the Somerset East Basic Command Unit and is available centrally only from 1999–2000. The statistics for burglary for this BCD are only available for burglary in a dwelling.
	
		Table 1: Offences recorded by the police 1992 to 2001–02 1
		
			  Somerset East Avon and Somerset 
			  Burglary in a dwelling Violent crime Vehicle crime All burglary Violent crime Vehicle crime 
		
		
			 1992 n/a n/a n/a 43,163 7,057 64,117 
			 1993 n/a n/a n/a 40,655 8,529 62,238 
			 1994 n/a n/a n/a 37,397 9,597 56,828 
			 1995 n/a n/a n/a 34,111 10,252 48,172 
			 1996 n/a n/a n/a 35,151 11,868 47,470 
			 1997 n/a n/a n/a 31,220 12,176 41,715 
			 1998–99(17) n/a n/a n/a 29,194 14,985 37,823 
			 1999–00 1,308 1,705 3,323 27,804 16,061 34,411 
			 2000–01 1,232 2,285 3,264 25,805 19,071 32,348 
			 2001–02 1,427 2,760 4,232 32,865 23,670 40,791 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(16) The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	(17) Expanded coverage and revised counting rules came into force from April 1998.
	
		Table 2: Offences recorded by the police 2002–03 to 2003–04 1
		
			  Somerset East Avon and Somerset 
			  Burglary in a dwelling Violent crime Vehicle crime All burglary Violent crime Vehicle crime 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,737 3,098 4,257 30,182 25,816 36,249 
			 2003–04 1,051 4,090 2,856 24,564 30,954 29,008 
		
	
	(18) The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crime

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) crimes, (b) burglaries, (c) thefts and (d) vehicle-related crimes were reported to the police in (i) Yorkshire and the Humber, (ii) North Yorkshire and (iii) City of York in (A) 1979, (B) 1997 and (C) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the following tables. Figures for the City of York relate to the York Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area and are only available for 2003–04.
	
		Offences recorded by the police in 1979
		
			  Yorkshire and the Humber region North Yorkshire York CDRP 
		
		
			 Total crimes 255,097 21,887 n/a 
			 Burglaries 60,738 4,804 n/a 
			 Thefts(19) 84,450 8,168 n/a 
			 Vehicle-related crimes 50,918 3,805 n/a 
		
	
	n/a—Not available.
	(19) Excluding vehicle-related crimes.
	
		Offences recorded by the police in 1997
		
			  Yorkshire and the Humber region North Yorkshire York CDRP 
		
		
			 Total crimes 546,684 50,252 n/a 
			 Burglaries 152,660 11,359 n/a 
			 Thefts(20) 115,940 14,301 n/a 
			 Vehicle-related crimes 132,701 11,721 n/a 
		
	
	n/a—Not available.
	(20) Excluding vehicle-related crimes.
	
		Offences recorded by the police in 2003–04 1
		
			  Yorkshire and the Humber region North Yorkshire York CDRP 
		
		
			 Total crimes 680,467 71,473 29,347 
			 Burglaries 121,175 11,062 4,529 
			 Thefts(22) 142,606 19,890 8,377 
			 Vehicle-related crimes 115,899 9,516 4,868 
		
	
	(21) The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	(22) Excluding vehicle-related crimes.

Crime

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of crimes reported to the police were cleared up in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) City of York in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the table. No information is currently available centrally for clear-ups for all offences in the York Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.
	
		Percentage of offences cleared up by the police in 1997 and 2003–04
		
			  1997 1 2003–04 2 
		
		
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 26 21 
			 North Yorkshire 26 28 
			 York CDRP n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a—Not available.
	(23) Figures for offences cleared up are affected by changes to the detections counting rules in 1998–99 and the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. The figures for the two years are therefore not directly comparable.

Crime

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on CCTV in York since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Since 1997, the Home Office has specifically provided the City of York with £228,000 for Close Circuit Television. This was as a result of Round Two of the Crime Reduction Programme.
	Other years' crime reduction funding has been allocated directly to the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Basic Command Unit in York to finance a variety of interventions, including CCTV. Information about the allocation of that funding is not held centrally.

Doorstep Selling and Cold Calling

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to combat doorstep crime; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has been working since 2000 to help prevent distraction burglary—i.e. those cases where a falsehood, trick or distraction is used on an occupant of a dwelling to gain or try to gain access to the premises to commit burglary. Among other things, we have:
	issued good practice guidelines to those tackling the problem on a local level, including those who work with older people;
	funded pilot projects and disseminated the good practice that has emerged;
	produced and distributed videos and other publicity material aimed at informing older people about this crime and what they can do to reduce their chances of becoming victims;
	encouraged and, in certain areas, helped fund work in to improve the appearance and security of homes; and
	encouraged the sharing of intelligence between all the agencies involved.
	Other doorstep crimes—such as those committed by rogue traders—often involve breaches of consumer laws that are the responsibility of the Department for Trade and Industry. We are working closely with them on tackling these crimes.

Drunk Driving

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of breath tests taken in the Greater London area resulted in arrests for drunk driving during the last 12 months.

Caroline Flint: The number of arrests resulting from positive or refused breath tests are not collated centrally. However, 24 per cent. of screening breath tests carried out in 2002, in Greater London were positive or refused.
	Statistics for 2003 will be available in the spring 2005.

Firearms

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidental (a) fatalities and (b) injuries have been caused by licensed people using (i) shotguns and (ii) rifles in the field in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: No information is collated centrally in relation to accidents resulting from the use of shotguns and rifles in the field.

Internet (Material Seizure)

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with US law enforcement agencies concerning the seizure of material from UK-based internet hosting providers; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I can confirm that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has had no discussions in regard to the matter referred to in the question posed by the hon. Member. In the circumstances I do not therefore believe that it is necessary for me to make a statement.

Knife Crimes

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents involving knives and other bladed weapons were reported to the police in each year since 1997 for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally. The number of offences involving knives are not separated out in the recorded crime statistics. The Homicide Index holds details on the number of homicides where the apparent method of killing was the use of a sharp instrument. The available information from 1997–98 to 2002–03 is given in the table.
	
		Number of homicides involving the use of a sharp instrument
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997–98 202 
			 1998–99 202 
			 1999–2000 213 
			 2000–01 214 
			 2001–02 262 
			 2002–03 272

Louise-Ann Nel

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire of (a) 20 April and (b) 18 May concerning Louise-Ann Nel (Home Office Refs E1000813/N1012865)

Des Browne: My hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) wrote to my hon. Friend on 26 October.

Mobile Phones

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of enforcement of the ban on the use of handheld mobile telephones while driving.

Caroline Flint: The new specific offence of using a hand-held phone while driving is intended essentially as a deterrent and to provide a simple, objective offence to enforce and prosecute which does not depend on judgements of degree of control or carelessness. The Association of Chief Police Officers have welcomed it as a straightforward method of dealing with this dangerous behaviour. The police will enforce the offence as operationally appropriate.
	I understand that the Department for Transport is monitoring the use of mobile phones by drivers. The most recent survey carried out on weekdays in September 2004 found that the use of hand-held phones by car drivers had dropped by over 25 per cent. since September 2003.

Pedestrian Footways

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to change the guidance he gives to the police in respect of cycling on pedestrian footways; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Chief officers of police are best placed to assess the nature and cause of cycling offences locally and to decide the most appropriate response.
	The Government do not condone irresponsible cycling and will continue to promote safe behaviour on bicycles. To help the police with enforcement we have made it possible for Community Support Officer (CSOs) appointed under the Police Reform Act 2002 to issue £30 fixed penalty notices for cycling inconsiderately or irresponsibly on pavements.
	The cycling infrastructure and environment are currently under improvement as a result of our National Cycling Strategy. We expect this improvement to reduce the incentive to cycle on the pavement.

Police

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average per capita spending on the Metropolitan Police force is in the current financial year.

Hazel Blears: The budget requirement of the Metropolitan Police Authority in 2004–05 is £2,650 million. This includes the net revenue budget and spending for targeted programmes and for capital provision 1 .The estimated population is 7.348 million 2 .
	Average per capita spending on the Metropolitan Police Service in 2004–05 is £361. Grant towards funding the expenditure is £2,132 million or £290 per head of population.
	1 Includes Crime Fighting Fund, Airwave, DNA Expansion Programme, Community Support Officer funding, London and South East Allowances, Free Travel, Basic Command Unit funding, Street Crime Initiative, Special Priority Payments, Counter Terrorism funding and capital provision. Forces may use revenue funding to support additional spending on capital.
	2 Source: Mid 2002 population estimate—Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the police force in Southend was in each of the last five years; and what the performance indicators are for the force.

Hazel Blears: The Chief Constable of Essex Police informs me that the expenditure of Southend Basic Command Unit (BCU) in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Expenditure (£ million) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 10.3 
			 2000–01 9.7 
			 2001–02 10.3 
			 2002–03 10.7 
			 2003–04 11.5 
			 2004–05(24) 12.0 
		
	
	(24) Estimate.
	In addition, the Southend BCU benefits from use of central force facilities, including traffic policing and air support.
	The Police Performance Monitoring Report for 2003–04, published in September 2004, shows performance for forces over six domains of policing responsibility. At BCU level, data are available for two of those domains: Reducing Crime and Investigating Crime.
	The Reducing Crime domain measures the number of domestic burglaries, vehicle crimes and robberies per 1,000 population. Figures for the Southend BCD are:
	
		
			 Crime type Number of crimes (2003–04) Crimes per 1,000 population (2003–04) Change from 2002–03 (percentage) 
		
		
			 Domestic burglary 832 12 -23 
			 Vehicle crime 2,254 14 +2 
			 Robbery 408 3 +30 
		
	
	The Investigating Crime domain measures sanction detections and offences brought to justice (OBTJ) per recorded crime. OBTJ data are only available at force level, but detection data are available at BCU level. Detection rates (including administrative detections) for 2003–04 for the crime types listed above in the Southend BCU are given in the table.
	
		
			  Crime type Detections per crime (2003–04) (percentage) 
		
		
			 Domestic burglary 13 
			 Vehicle crime 8 
			 Robbery 20

Police

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total spending by Warwickshire police (a) was in each of the last seven years and (b) is expected to be in 2004–05; how much in each case was spent by the force on pensions; and how much of the total expenditure in each case was funded from (i) central government and (ii) council tax.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 October 2004
	The information is set out in the following table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Total government funding(26) Other(27) Council Tax Total Gross Revenue Expenditure Net Expenditure on Pensions 
		
		
			 1997–98 41.6 2.8 9.3 53.7 7.1 
			 1998–99 42.5 0.9 11.1 54.5 6.8 
			 1999–2000 43.3 1.8 12.7 57.8 8.0 
			 2000–01 46.3 0.7 14.1 60.9 8.4 
			 2001–02 49.1 1.6 15.8 66.5 8.8 
			 2002–03 50.3 1.1 19.0 70.4 7.9 
			 2003–04 52.2 2.9 22.1 77.2 11.5 
			 2004–05(25) 53.8 4.1 24.1 82.0 12.3 
		
	
	(25) 2004–05 estimates provided by Warwickshire police.
	(26) Includes Principal Home Office police grant, ODPM Revenue Support Grant and National Non Domestic Rates, special grant, revenue for Airwave, Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Grant, Loan Charges grant, and other smaller specific grants.
	(27) Includes all other force income and movements in reserves.
	Source:
	Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics (Actuals 1997–98 to 2002–03 and Estimates 2003–04).

Prisons

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what fire safety advice is made available to prisons; and whether there are regional variations in the advice made available;
	(2)  what the outcome was of the recent independent management review of Prison Service fire safety advisors; and if he will make a statement on its implementation, with particular reference to costs;
	(3)  what the cost was of the independent management review of Prison Service fire safety advisors;
	(4)  what apparatus is available to members of the Prison Service to deal with fires.

Paul Goggins: Each establishment has a dedicated fire officer, who has attended relevant training. This person acts as a first line of advice to the Governor of the establishment. This structure is supported by the Prison Service Fire Safety Section in which experienced and appropriately qualified fire professionals are available to offer support and advice on policy. There are no regional variations as policy is generated from the centre thereby maintaining a consistent approach.
	There has been no independent review of Prison Service fire advisors. All reviews have been commissioned on an in-house basis by the Prison Service and after careful consideration Fire Safety Section has been restructured and the new arrangements started on 4 October 2004. The cost of work undertaken in assessing the work of Fire Safety Section is not available because the revision was part of the Prison Service's overall Human Resource programme.
	Within each establishment a range of fire fighting equipment is available for staff use, including fire reels, extinguishers, cell inundation points and use of short duration breathing apparatus.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Prison Service has spent defending equal pay employment tribunal cases in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: On 9 September 2004 the Prison Service had spent £1,034,741 since 1997 on equal pay tribunal cases.

Racist Attacks

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racist (a) attacks and (b) threats police authorities have recorded in 2004.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates 2003–04 and covers offences of racially or religiously aggravated less serious wounding and common assault. There were 4,840 recorded offences of racially or religiously aggravated less serious wounding and 4,017 offences of racially or religiously aggravated common assault. Information on racist threats is not collected centrally.

Retail Crime

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what action the Government is taking on retail crime;
	(2)  what assistance is given to retailers to help tackle retail crime; and how retailers can receive such assistance.

Hazel Blears: The Government recognises the detrimental impact that crime can have on retailers, their staff and the communities they serve and is taking positive action to reduce it.
	On 12 October 2004 I met with senior retailers and their trade associations to discuss the key issues faced by retailers and to seek their views on joint action to reduce retail crime. Actions coming out of this will build on the work already under way.
	The Home Office has supported the work of the British Retail Consortium in developing retail crime reduction partnerships and is providing £899 of funding for them to set up the Action Against Business Crime (AABC) Group. This Group will provide a national network of business crime reduction partnerships in town and shopping centres across England and Wales. 100 new partnerships will be set up in addition to the 100 or so already established, who will be provided with a support network.
	Recognising that a large proportion of retail crime is drug related, pilot outreach schemes have been set up, with £170,000 Home Office funding, in Brighton and Northampton to tackle the link between retail crime and drugs misuse.
	We have recently completed the 'Small Retailers in Deprived Areas' initiative which provided £15 million of Government funding to the most vulnerable businesses to enable them to install security measures. Over 12,500 businesses benefited from the scheme which also included a training programme on crime reduction for retailers.
	Advice on crime reduction information is available from the Home Office produced postcards 'Don't Discount Crime' and 'Putting Crime out of Business', both of which provide easily accessible crime reduction advice to small businesses. These are available on the Home Office website. The Health and Safety Executive has also produced specific advice on managing the risk of work related violence.
	Retailers can obtain further specific advice and assistance on crime reduction from the Business Crime Reduction Advisers based in each of the Government Offices, the Home Office website and their trade associations.
	From November 2004 the police will be able to issue fixed penalty notices for some cases of retail or commercial theft. This will ensure that more minor incidents of such theft are dealt with quickly and effectively and the £80 penalty will act as a strong deterrent for first time offenders.

Retail Crime

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many fixed penalty notices for shoplifting a repeat offender receives before being taken to court;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has issued about the proposed move to fixed penalty notices for shoplifting with regard to repeat offenders.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 14 October 2004
	Operational guidance on issuing fixed penalty notices for disorder, as provided for under section 6 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, was provided to the police for the pilots of penalty notices for disorder which commenced from August 2002.
	10 new penalty offences were added to the scheme by Order 2004 number 2,540 made on 27 September. Theft is one of these offences. The operational guidance is now being revised and updated in consultation with the police, retail sector representatives and other stakeholders.
	The amended guidance will provide advice on issuing fixed penalty notices for the new penalty offences coming into effect from 1 November 2004. The revised police operational guidance will be made available via the Home Office website for general access shortly, when it has been finalised.
	The police operational guidance will advise that offenders who repeatedly shoplift will not be suitable for fixed penalty notice disposal.

Retail Crime

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all fixed penalty notices for retail theft are made available to retail establishments when recruiting new personnel.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 14 October 2004
	Retailers will be responsible for setting their own recruitment policies in respect of declaration of fixed penalty notices.

Retail Crime

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances a repeat offender for shop-lifting receiving two or more fixed penalty notices is neither fingerprinted nor photographed.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 14 October 2004
	Theft is a recordable offence. The police have the power to take fingerprints and DNA on arrest for all recordable offences. These will be logged against the individual's name on the police national computer (PNC). It is expected that most cases of shoplifting will involve the person's arrest. The police will check on PNC for previous offending. If the person is identified as having already had fingerprints and DNA taken and entered on the databases they would not need to be taken again.
	Where a person has not been identified as a previous offender and has not been arrested, police may seek the person's consent to provide an identifying fingerprint.
	Operational guidance provided to the police advises that offenders who repeatedly shop lift will not be suitable for being dealt with by fixed penalty notice.

Retail Crime

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of shoplifting in Waveney in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; and how many of these led to (i) a caution, (ii) probation and (iii) a custodial sentence.

Paul Goggins: The information contained in the table gives the number of persons cautioned and the number found guilty at all courts and those sentenced to a community rehabilitation order (formerly a probation order) or immediate custody for "stealing from shops and stalls" in the Suffolk police force area, 2001 and 2002.
	The information collected centrally does not enable cases in the Waveney constituency to be identified.
	Statistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of persons cautioned, and the number found guilty and sentenced for "stealing from shops and stalls" at all courts, Suffolk police force area, 2001 and 2002 1
		
			  2001 2002 
		
		
			 Cautioned 599 396 
			 Found guilty 771 743 
			 Sentenced 770 739 
			 Of which:   
			 Community rehabilitation order(29) 94 88 
			 Immediate custody 102 112 
		
	
	(28) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(29) Formerly a probation order.

Stop and Search

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Association of Chief Police Officers has (a) reviewed and (b) revised its guidelines on stop and search procedures.

Hazel Blears: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) last issued guidance on stop and search procedures in August 2001 (Manual of guidance on stop and search). They have no plans to revise or review this guidance but have contributed to the Recording of 'stops' Implementation Guide (issued by the Home Office in March 2004) and the 'Interim Guidance on Stop and Search' (issued by the Home Office, ACPO, and the APA in July 2004). They will also be a member of the Stop and Search Action Team Delivery Board that will deliver the Stop and Search Manual in 2005.

Stop and Search

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which groups he has had discussions regarding stop and search and arrest and detention powers.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office launched the Stop and Search Action Team (SSAT) in July 2004 to ensure that the police use their powers of stop and search fairly and as effectively as possible. The SSAT are working with both police and community representatives to deliver their work programme.
	The PACE Codes that govern arrest and detention powers are consulted on widely by the police service, authorities and community groups. This is then referred to the Home Affairs Select Committee and then onto Parliament for approval.

Violent Crime

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent attacks against Asian men were recorded in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 25 October 2004
	This information is not collected centrally. It is not possible to identify the ethnicity of victims of violent attacks from the recorded crime statistics.

Violent Crime

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported cases of violence against women there have been in the Metropolitan police force area during the last 12 months.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally. However, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis reports as follows:
	
		Female victims of violence against the person recorded by the Metropolitan police: October 2003–September 2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Murder 41 
			 GBH 964 
			 ABH 20,236 
			 Common assault 42,742 
			 Offensive weapon 331 
			 Harassment 19,814 
			 Other violence 5,833 
			 Total 89,961 
		
	
	The British Crime Survey provides a measure of incidents of violence against women which includes those offences that are not reported to the police. Further information is available in chapter 5 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 10/04 'Crime in England and Wales 2003/04'. A copy is available in the Library and it can also be accessed via the Home Office website.

Women Chief Constables

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for The Home Department how many women are chief constables in each of the policing divisions.

Hazel Blears: Four women currently hold chief constable or equivalent posts in police forces in the United Kingdom.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Creative Partnerships Programme

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution her Department has made to the additional £70 million funds allocated to the Creative Partnerships programme until 2006.

Estelle Morris: The Department allocated all of the additional £70 million for the delivery of the Creative Partnerships programme until 2006. This is enabling the programme to continue to support the existing 16 partnerships, and to expand to nine new areas this year and a further 11 areas in 2005. DfES has allocated an additional £2.5 million to the programme in 2004–05.

Creative Partnerships Programme

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which indices of multiple deprivation were used to select those areas included in (a) phase one, (b) phase two and (c) phase three of the Creative Partnerships programme.

Estelle Morris: The primary indices of deprivation used to select areas for inclusion in the first phase of Creative Partnerships were: the DETR Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000; the DfEE Free School Meal Index; and, the list of DETR Rural Development Areas. For phases two and three of the programme, the primary indices were the list of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Areas and the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000.
	For all three phases of the programme, the regional offices of Arts Council England were permitted some flexibility in selecting areas, to take account of cultural and regional priorities, and the need for the programme to achieve a national spread.

Creative Partnerships Programme

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to extend the Creative Partnerships programme beyond phase three areas.

Estelle Morris: There are currently no plans to extend Creative Partnerships beyond the 36 areas already directly involved in the programme. However, the Creative Partnerships team will continue to work nationally and locally with colleagues from other areas to spread the lessons being learned through the programme more widely.

National Lottery

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the impact of more casinos on the (a) takings and (b) disbursements of the national lottery.

Richard Caborn: The position remains as set out in paragraph 5.11 of "A safe bet for success", laid before Parliament as Cm 5397.

Social Exclusion (Lottery Funding)

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the contribution that the lottery has made to combating social exclusion in the Tees Valley.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 1 November 2004
	Lottery distributors are required to take into account the need to reduce economic and social deprivation in making awards. It is not possible to identify the exact value of funding to the Tees Valley, or to identify the exact value of funding specifically to target social exclusion. Redcar has received a total of 234 awards amounting to £18,730,581 from the lottery.
	Lottery funding has transformed the lives of thousands of people across the UK; it has raised over £16 billion for good causes and funded over 160,000 projects.

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the growth rates in the tourism industry were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: Tourism industry growth rates are currently available on a consistent basis only since 2000, and these are shown in the table:
	
		Tourism industry growth
		
			  Gross value added (£ billion)  Growth (%) 
		
		
			 2000 32.0 — 
			 2001 31.5 -1.5 
			 2002 32.2 2.1 
			 2003 32.8 1.9 
		
	
	Source:
	UK Tourism Satellite Accounts First Steps project, September 2004

Tourism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of current growth rates in the tourism industry.

Richard Caborn: The latest estimate for growth in the tourism industry is for 2002–03, and stood at 1.9 per cent. This estimate is from the UK Tourism Satellite Account First Steps Project, which was published in September 2004.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Antiretroviral Drugs

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans the Government has to encourage the World Trade Organisation to change the TRIPS rules on antiretroviral drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: On 30 August 2003 the World Trade Organisation (WTO) reached an agreement to enable countries with insufficient or no manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector to make effective use of the compulsory licensing provisions already present in the TRIPS Agreement. The decision which the WTO Members made should improve access to cheaper medicines, including antiretrovirals, for poor countries lacking production capacity.
	Discussions continue in Geneva, with a view to turning the 30 August Decision into an amendment to the TRIPS Agreement itself. The UK Government would prefer to see a swift conclusion to these discussions and an amendment which faithfully reflects the agreement reached on 30 August. However, delay in agreeing an amendment to the TRIPS Agreement will not affect developing countries' ability to use the Decision.
	Our view is that developing countries should be able to take full advantage of the flexibilities in the TRIPS Agreement—including compulsory licensing—as set out in the Doha Ministerial Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health.

CDC

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list firms liquidated by CDC/Actis Capital by (a) sector, (b) country, (c) original investment amount and (d) liquidation return amount since 1998.

Hilary Benn: The following table contains the information for companies put into liquidation since 2000. Earlier information cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			£ million 
			 Investment company Sector Country Original investment amount Capital returned 
		
		
			 Adesemi Communications International Inc Telecommunications Tanzania 2.2 0.3 
			 Afribrand Holdings Ltd. Food manufacture South Africa 5.2 0.0 
			 Africarco Haulage Ltd. Transport and logistics Tanzania 0.8 0.7 
			 Bonair Fashion Ltd. Textiles Mauritius 1.3 1.3 
			 Enterprise Capital Fund Venture capital fund South Africa 3.3 1.3 
			 Guyana Housing and Development Co Ltd. Housing finance Guyana 0.4 0.4 
			 Guyana Mortgage Finance Co Ltd. Housing finance Guyana 1.7 1.7 
			 Guyana State Corporation Agribusiness Guyana 0.5 0.5 
			 Hala Spinning Ltd. Textiles Pakistan 1.6 1.6 
			 Karimjee Agriculture Ltd. Agribusiness Tanzania 3.4 3.2 
			 Langa National Brickworks (Pty) Ltd. Brick manufacture Swaziland 1.0 0.0 
			 Mananga Management Centre Agricultural training Swaziland 0.9 0.9 
			 MacGregor Property Pty Ltd. Property Papua New Guinea 2.5 1.8 
			 Minaco Fabrics Ltd. Textiles Pakistan 2.5 1.1 
			 Mubarik Dairies Ltd. Agribusiness Pakistan 0.1 0.0 
			 Natex Holdings Ltd. Textiles Swaziland 16.7 3.6 
			 Nusantara Investment Fund Ltd. Venture capital fund Indonesia 4.5 1.5 
			 Shape Fabrics Ltd. Textiles Mauritius 0.3 0.0 
			 Tropical Glass Co Ltd. Glass manufacturing Ghana 1.1 1.1 
			 Woventex Ltd. Textiles Mauritius 1.4 0.0

CDC

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of China Capital Partners Ltd. CDC has owned in each year since 1999; and if he will list its other investors by (a) amount and (b) proportion since 1999.

Hilary Benn: From 1999 to 2004, China Capital Partners Ltd. was owned 50 per cent. by CDC Group plc and 50 per cent. by Aviva plc. It is now owned 100 per cent. by Actis. The amount paid by Aviva for its investment in China Capital Partners is confidential to the parties involved.

China Capital Partners

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list China Capital Partners Ltd.'s investments by (a) sector, (b) location, (c) amount and (d) percentage of ownership.

Hilary Benn: The information (a) (b) and (c) is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Investment company  Sector  Location Amount invested (US$ million) 
		
		
			 NorthPole Manufacturing China, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh 30.0 
			 Mengniu Dairy Dairy producer Mongolia 7.5 
			 Powercom Telecoms Shenzhen, Guangdong 12.0 
			 China Wolfberry Beverages Shongwei, Zhonghing 10.0 
			 China National Offshore Oil  Company (CNOOC) Minerals, oil and gas Offshore China 25.0 
		
	
	(d) The stake in CNOOC has been sold. The other stakes are minority holdings. The exact percentages are commercially sensitive.

Climate Change

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the UK's international development policies are assessed for their impact on climate change.

Hilary Benn: The goal of UK development assistance is poverty eradication and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. DFID supports developing countries in the planning and implementation of their development strategies, for example national poverty reduction plans, including responding to climate related risks. We also support multilateral work to support low carbon development.
	DFID's environmental safeguard policies require all bilateral programmes to be screened for a range of environmental impacts, including climate change. The screening requirements are due for review in 2005 and we will be examining ways to improve our treatment of climate risks.
	With respect to aid funds delivered through multilateral organisations, DFID is working with them to ensure that their environmental screening policies address climate change, and to raise awareness about tackling climate change proactively. Following the 2001 review of the World Bank's role in oil and gas extraction and mining (the Extractive Industries Review), we secured a commitment from the World Bank Group to increase investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy over the period 2005 to 2010. However, we consider the World Bank's target of doubling investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy too modest, and have called for further review in 2005.
	The UK is committed to helping developing countries manage risks and adapt to impacts of climate change. DFID has issued preliminary guidance as part of an overall adaptation strategy. We plan to develop more detailed guidance in 2005, in partnership with the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the World Bank.

Ministers' Private Offices

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the running costs of Ministers' private offices in his Department have been in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: It is difficult to separate out the running costs of Ministers' Private Offices from the total expenditure of DFID's Top Management Group, which includes the Permanent Secretary, the Directors General and their staff.
	For the financial year 2003–04, the best estimate of Ministers' Private Office running cost expenditure is £1,149,559. This includes salary for Ministers and their staff (including the Parliamentary and Correspondence Units), travel and subsistence, training, subscriptions, post and telecommunications.
	For previous years, I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on the 17 July 2003, Official Report, column 573W. Figures from previous years are not directly comparable given revised budgeting procedures and for a short period in 2003–04 there was an additional Ministerial position and Private Office.

Palestinian Equity Fund

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the Palestinian Equity Fund.

Hilary Benn: The Palestinian Equity Fund is a new scheme to provide small loans to Palestinian olive farmers to modernise the olive oil industry. DFID has considered very carefully proposals that we should fund this initiative. Small enterprise development and agriculture are not however focus areas for DFID as set out in our Country Assistance Plan for Palestinians 2004–06. We have advised the organisers of the fund of possible alternative sources of support.

Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department (a) has undertaken and (b) plans to undertake to comply with the Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order 2003.

Hilary Benn: DFID has commissioned a feasibility study for the use of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generated electricity in our main London Building. We are awaiting the report from this study. Under the targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development for the Government Estate, Departments are required to source at least 15 per cent. of electricity from Good Quality Combined Heat and Power by 2010, but allowances will be made for those departments that already purchase 100 per cent. renewable electricity. In our case, 100 per cent. of the electricity used at this site is already generated from renewable sources, and since July 2004 this is also the case for our second main UK office at East Kilbride.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

China

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Chinese investment there has been in the UK in each year since 1999.

Douglas Alexander: Since 1999, UK Trade and Investment has recorded the following number of inward investment projects from China in the UK. Figures for 1999–2000 to 2003–04 have been updated since the publication of annual reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year. These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. These figures take no account of subsequent developments. There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects, where UKTIs Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.
	
		
			  Number of projects 
		
		
			 1999–2000 0 
			 2000–01 11 
			 2001–02 18 
			 2002–03 22 
			 2003–04 23

Commercial Debts (Late Payment)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding late payment of commercial debts; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: I meet the key SME representative organisations regularly, and this issue is not among their top three concerns. However, the Government have always recognised that late payment of debts can have serious effects on the cash flow of smaller companies, which is why we had a manifesto commitment to introduce a Late Payment Act to allow small business to:
	claim interest on late payment from other business or public bodies;
	allow creditors to claim a fixed sum of compensation to cover debt recovery costs, should late payment happen.
	The Government also established the Better Payment Practice Group whose website lists the payment record of companies.

Data Protection

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures are in place (a) to check the criminal records of civil servants in her Department and agencies responsible to her Department who have access to computer databases containing confidential information on the public and (b) to ensure that there can be no improper use of computer databases containing confidential information on the public; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The information is as follows:
	(a) The DTI has a framework of personnel security controls that are applied to civil servants who, in the course of their work, have access to computer databases containing confidential information on the public; and
	(b) all access to DTI systems and databases is authenticated and audited to prevent improper use and to keep a record of the actions of legitimate users.

East Midlands Development Agency

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the East Midlands Development Agency is spending on a radio competition to find the Greatest East Midlander of All Time; and under which of the Agency's aims and objectives the competition is being organised.

Jacqui Smith: I am advised by the East Midlands Development Agency (Emda) that they will spend £5,000 for a 4-week campaign to find the Greatest East Midlander. They will use the competition to showcase successful and famous East Midland's entrepreneurs to feed into their New Business New Life campaign, which aims to stimulate an enterprising culture in the region.

Energy Projections

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the revised updated energy projections will be published.

Mike O'Brien: Headline results from the updated projections, covering CO 2 emissions, have been made available as part of our announcements on Wednesday 27 October in relation to the UK's National Allocation Plan for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. More detailed results of the central case projections will be published in November.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU Standing Committee on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to machinery met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by the (A) EU and (B) UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The mandate of the machinery Standing Committee is contained in Article 6.2 of the Machinery Directive 98/37/EC. The provisions of this Article have not yet been put into effect, so the Committee has never met.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee on the directives on names and labelling of textile products met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by the (A) EU and (B) UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: No meeting of the EU Committee on Directives on names and labelling of textile products took place during the Greek presidency.

EU Presidency (Greece)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Standing Committee for the approximation of the laws of the member states (a) relating to lifts and (b) concerning pressure equipment met; when and where each meeting took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (i) technical and (ii) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (A) proposed and (B) taken by (1) the EU and (2) the UK Government as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The mandate of the lifts Standing Committee is contained in Article 6.3 of the Lifts Directive 95/16/EC. The Committee did not meet during the Greek presidency.
	The mandate of the pressure equipment Standing Committee is contained in Article 7.2 of the Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC. The provisions of this Article have not yet been put into effect, so the Committee has never met.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down the Export Credits Guarantee Department's unrecovered claims on a debtor-by-debtor basis on guarantees issued since 1991.

Douglas Alexander: As my predecessor explained in his answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 696W, it is not possible to provide unrecovered claims information on a debtor by debtor basis. To do so could prejudice negotiations ECGD is having or will have about recovering debt. However, I am able to supply the information you have requested on a market basis.
	
		
			 Market Unrecovered claims 
		
		
			 Algeria 30,133,495.16 
			 Australia 7,952,684.73 
			 Belgium 23,352,522.61 
			 Cote D'Ivoire 14,604,414.00 
			 Ghana 51,714,850.73 
			 Indonesia 662,642,881.98 
			 Kuwait 48,257.35 
			 Mexico 1,272,839.45 
			 Pakistan 6,832,438.05 
			 Seychelles 1,042,876.69 
			 Switzerland 27,503,646.86 
			 Turkey 1,937,906.33 
			 Zimbabwe 88,397,437.94 
			 Dominica 1,355,281.31 
			 Brazil 2,151,047.97 
			 Canada 20,786,267.78 
			 Colombia 1,294,028.97 
			 Paraguay 17,430.03 
			 Grand total 943,040,307.94 
		
	
	All amounts are in sterling as at 30 September 2004

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions since May the Export Credits Guarantee Department has used its new audit powers to audit customer books.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 25 October 2004
	None. ECGD's programme of external compliance reviews is based on a sample of cases issued in prior years. Cases issued in 2004 containing new audit powers will become eligible for selection as part of the programme of reviews.

Fireworks

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Scottish Ministers regarding efforts to raise the public awareness of the new laws on firework misuse.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department has been working closely with the Scottish Executive not only on the substance of the new Fireworks Regulations 2004—but also on issues to do with publicity. The DTI is also running it annual Fireworks Safety Awareness Campaign which covers the whole of the UK. This year there is particular emphasis on changes to the law which the Fireworks Regulations 2004 introduced.

Gas Supplies

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of when the UK will cease to be self-sufficient in gas supply.

Mike O'Brien: Our most recent assessment is that the UK may be a net importer of gas from 2005.

Glass Packaging Sector

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance her Department is offering to the glass container industry to develop new markets for glass containers; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Government continues to provide assistance to manufacturing industry, which includes the glass container industry. I was able to see at first hand one such example of this support when I opened a new green glass furnace at Rexam Glass in July 2003. The plant had received substantial Regional Selective Assistance from my Department.
	For companies looking for assistance to develop additional markets, UK Trade and Investment supports UK companies, in their efforts to identify potential new markets.
	A recent scoping mission by UK Trade and Investment's Giftware Sector (which includes some of the glass container industry) has identified the top 10 key markets for the sector. Further information can be obtained from the UKT&I's website www.trade.uktradeinvest.gov.uk.

Imports

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which 40 countries made the greatest value of exports to the UK in each year from 2001 to 2004.

Douglas Alexander: According to information published by HM Customs and Excise, the top 40 sources of UK imports of goods, in each year from 2001 to 2003 and for January to August 2004 are as given in the following table. Comprehensive information on imports of services, by partner country, is not available.
	
		Top 40 sources of UK imports of goods
		
			 Rank  2001  2002  2003 January- August 2004 
		
		
			 1 USA Germany Germany Germany 
			 2 Germany USA USA USA 
			 3 France France France France 
			 4 Netherlands Netherlands Netherlands Netherlands 
			 5 Belgium Belgium Belgium Belgium 
			 6 Italy Italy Italy Italy 
			 7 Irish Republic Irish Republic Irish Republic Irish Republic 
			 8 Japan Japan China China 
			 9 Spain Spain Spain Spain 
			 10 Hong Kong China Japan Japan 
			 11 China Hong Kong Norway Norway 
			 12 Norway Norway Hong Kong Hong Kong 
			 13 Switzerland Switzerland Sweden Sweden 
			 14 Sweden Sweden Switzerland Canada 
			 15 Canada Canada Canada Switzerland 
			 16 South Africa Denmark South Africa Singapore 
			 17 Finland South Korea Denmark Turkey 
			 18 Taiwan South Africa Singapore South Africa 
			 19 South Korea Finland Turkey Russia 
			 20 Denmark Taiwan Austria South Korea 
			 21 Singapore Turkey Finland Denmark 
			 22 Russia Austria South Korea Taiwan 
			 23 Malaysia Singapore Russia Austria 
			 24 India Russia Taiwan India 
			 25 Austria India India Finland 
			 26 Australia Malaysia Portugal Malaysia 
			 27 Turkey Australia Malaysia Portugal 
			 28 Thailand Portugal Australia Australia 
			 29 Portugal Thailand Thailand Poland 
			 30 Brazil Brazil Poland Thailand 
			 31 Philippines Poland Brazil Brazil 
			 32 Poland Czech Republic Czech Republic Hungary 
			 33 Indonesia Indonesia Hungary Czech Republic 
			 34 Czech Republic Botswana Botswana Saudi Arabia 
			 35 Botswana Philippines Indonesia Botswana 
			 36 Saudi Arabia Israel Israel Indonesia 
			 37 Israel Hungary Dubai Israel 
			 38 Puerto Rico Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Romania 
			 39 Hungary Puerto Rico Philippines Vietnam 
			 40 Mexico Greece Romania New Zealand

Manufacturing

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many UK jobs are in manufacturing; and what percentage this represents.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 21 October 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to the ONS Report of June 2004, a copy of which has been placed in both Libraries of the House.

Passport Applications (Postal Security)

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what security measures are in place within the Post Office and Royal Mail to prevent the theft of passport applications and accompanying documents.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Royal Mail Group regards maintaining the integrity of the mail as one of its top priorities. The company has its own dedicated security and investigations unit. A recent further review of its procedures and practices in the letters business has resulted in the implementation of additional measures to improve security, and the recruitment, vetting and training of staff.
	For passport applications Post Office Ltd. recommend customers use its Check and Send service, available at selected Post Office branches, which checks the passport application form for common errors; sends the application form to the appropriate passport office; provides the applicant with a receipt; and provides the applicant with a phone number in order to track the progress of their application.

RDAs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which regional development agencies in England have spent money on radio advertising in the last five years for which figures are available; and how much each agency has spent.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 October 2004
	None of the regional development agencies have identified any radio advertising to promote the agency. Some agencies have contributed to campaigns or projects which have used radio advertising as part of their promotional activities.

Research and Development

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the budget is for the grant for research and development for each year between 2004 to 2007.

Nigel Griffiths: The baseline budget for Grant for Research and Development between 2004 and 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Baseline budget 
		
		
			 2004–05 27 
			 2005–06 27 
			 2006–07 27 
		
	
	In 2004–05 DTI has been able to increase the expenditure on Grant for Research and Development to £36 million.

Textiles

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has had made of the likely change in the level of textile imports in 2005.

Douglas Alexander: EU quota restrictions under the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) against WTO member countries will be removed on 1 January 2005. Given the large number of different factors involved in commercial buying decisions—such as price, quality, transport costs, proximity to market and speed of reaction to fashion changes, etc.—it is difficult to give an accurate forecast of the likely rise in imports. However a recent WTO study estimated that imports into the EU market will rise from 52.5 per cent. to 53.0 per cent. for textiles and from 48.5 per cent. to 51.0 per cent. for clothing. The higher increase for clothing imports reflects the fact that the clothing sector has more quota restrictions than the textiles sector.

Textiles

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of exports of textiles (a) including clothing and (b) excluding clothing from (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland was over the last three years in (A) cash and (B) real terms.

Douglas Alexander: Available export figures are as follows:
	
		
			  Current prices(30) (£ million) Constant prices(31) 
			  Textiles and  Of which: Index 2001 = 100 
			  Clothing Textiles Clothing Textiles Clothing 
		
		
			 UK  
			 2001 5,529 2,994 2,535 100 100 
			 2002 5,368 2,855 2,512 95 96 
			 2003 5,648 2,953 2,695 95 99 
			 Scotland 3  
			 2001 456 246 210 n/a n/a 
			 2002 406 224 181 n/a n/a 
			 2003 398 204 194 n/a n/a 
		
	
	(30) Source:
	HM Customs and Excise Regional Trade in Goods (Overseas Trade statistics basis).
	(31) Source:
	Office for National statistics Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics (Balance of Payments basis).
	(32) Identified to traders in Scotland.
	Note:
	Standard International Trade Classification division 65, textile yarns & fabrics, and division 84, apparel & clothing accessories.

Vision Boards

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many vision boards have been established in Lancashire; what area each vision board will cover; who will serve on each vision board; and who the chairperson of each board is;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the role of vision boards.

Jacqui Smith: The North West Development Agency has established three vision boards in Lancashire, in Burnley, Lancaster and Preston. The aim is to promote leadership at a local level with a focus on private sector engagement. Membership details are available from the relevant local authorities.

Wind Turbines

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many 2MW wind turbines are situated in (a) the UK and (b) Wales; and how many wind turbines of all specifications are situated in the UK.

Mike O'Brien: The information is as follows.
	(a) There are 74 x 2MW turbines in the UK
	(b) There are 30 x 2MW offshore turbines in Wales (North Hoyle)
	There are 1,180 wind turbines of all specifications situated in the UK.

DEFENCE

40 Commando RM

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when 40 Commando of Royal Marines is due to return to Norton Manor Camp, Taunton.

Adam Ingram: 40 Commando (Royal Marines) is due to complete its tour of duty in Iraq in January 2004, and will then return to Norton Manor Camp, Taunton.

40 Commando RM

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops of 40 Commando are in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: About 500 members of 40 Commando (Royal Marines) are currently deployed in Iraq on Operation Telic.

Afghanistan

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary cost of the United Kingdom's contribution to NATO's missions in Afghanistan has been over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The net additional costs of operations in Afghanistan in 2003–2004 were published in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts 2003–2004 and totalled £35.9 million. It is too early to provide a firm figure for the costs that are being incurred this financial year. We will ask the House to vote the necessary funds in Supplementary Estimates in due course.

Archive Files

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many archive files have been destroyed this year.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 1 November 2004
	Between 1 January and 26 October 2004, some 13,556 files from departmental archives have been destroyed under the normal departmental review process.

Archive Files

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department discovered that archive files held in the basement of the old War Office building were contaminated with asbestos; on what date the committee responsible first met to discuss this; and if he will make a statement on the time which elapsed between the two events.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 1 November 2004
	The presence of asbestos in the basement area of the Old War Office Building was confirmed in May 2003.
	A decision was immediately made to safeguard the information contained on these files and during the period June to December 2003 the files were progressively packed to ensure they could be safely handled. At the same time it was possible to implement the decontamination of the affected area. Some 3,000 crates of affected files were transferred to a new location during May 2004. This work fell within the Department's Main Building Redevelopment project.
	During this period, the Departmental Records Officer's (DRO's) staff were investigating options for the future handling of the potentially contaminated material. In August 2004, the DRO decided that this work should be overseen by a formal Project Board, including a member from The National Archives. This Board first met on 14 September 2004.

Archive Files

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy that the archive files found to be contaminated with asbestos will be rendered safe and made eligible for release in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 1 November 2004
	Yes.

Archive Files

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's files are classified as subject to temporary retention.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 1 November 2004
	Eight collections of records are currently the subject of temporary retention in department on administrative grounds under Lord Chancellor's Instruments.

Army Boards of Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many army boards of inquiry into non-combat deaths have been held in each of the past five years;
	(2)  what the average period of time between circumstances that required the establishment of an army board of inquiry and that inquiry being set up is in the past two year;
	(3)  in how many instances army Boards of Inquiry have been delayed by (a) ongoing police investigations, (b) civil legal proceedings, (c) criminal legal proceedings and (d) other circumstances in the past five years.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Arrangements are in hand to improve the central tracking of Boards of Inquiry within the Army and to identify and bear down on the cause of delay. Since June 2004 Boards of Inquiry into all unnatural deaths and serious injury must be convened within 48 hours of the incident taking place.

Correspondence

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister for Veterans, on 15 September 2004, Official Report, column 467WH, regarding Mrs. Crowton, when he will write to the hon. Member for New Forest, West.

Ivor Caplin: I replied to the hon. Member on 1 November.

Defamation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the armed forces seeking to bring a defamation case against national newspapers in relation to allegations connected with their official duties are obliged to first seek permission from (a) Ministers and (b) officials before proceeding.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 1 November 2004
	There is no requirement that would oblige members of the armed forces to first seek permission from Ministers or officials before bringing a defamation case against national newspapers.

Falcon Communications System

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the Army's Falcon tactical formation-level secure communications system.

Adam Ingram: Competitive assessment phase contracts for Increment A of the Falcon programme were placed with BAE Systems and Marconi Selenia in January 2003. Proposals were received in March 2004 and are being evaluated. We expect to make a decision on the main investment phase around the turn of the year.

Harley Dingle Site

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when his Department started using the Harley Dingle site for (a) the training of personnel and (b) the testing of weapons; and when each activity ceased;
	(2)  whether the Harley Dingle site was ever used by his Department as a testing ground for (a) armour piercing munition and (b) any munition containing depleted uranium.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has never owned the Harley Dingle site nor have we any record of the MOD's involvement in the testing of weapons, including armour piercing munition or any munition containing depleted uranium, at the site. No direct training of military personnel has been conducted at the site, although land belonging to the site has been traversed (with permission of the owners) during the course of low level military exercises for at least 10 years.

HMCS Chicoutimi

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date HMCS Chicoutimi was handed over to the Royal Canadian Navy; and whether problems were identified on the sea trials before docking at Campbell Town on 25 September.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 15 October 2004
	HMCS Chicoutimi (ex HMS Upholder) was handed over to the Canadian Department of National Defence on 2 October 2004.
	Sea trials of any vessel are intended to prove the performance of the vessel and identify any defects in systems and equipment. The trials conducted on HMCS Chicoutimi were in this respect no different from any other. At the time of the handover there were no known defects affecting ship safety.

HMS Royal Oak

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether HM Government plans to designate of HMS Royal Oak as a war grave.

Adam Ingram: The term "war grave" is reserved for those graves on land which come under the ambit of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The Ministry of Defence considers the wreck of HMS Royal Oak to be a military maritime grave. The Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA) 1986 allows protection from unauthorised interference to be afforded to wrecks that were in military service when lost. Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 1761 designated HMS Royal Oak (among others) as a controlled site within the meaning of the Act.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2004, Official Report, column 1176W, on Iraq, when the 11 October 2003 International Committee of the Red Cross working paper was passed to (a) UK service personnel and (b) officials of his Department.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 September 2004
	The 11 October 2003 International Committee of the Red Cross working paper was passed to MND(SE) by the Americans in October 2003. Nothing in the report merited it being passed to officials in the UK, and we have no record of this being done at the time. A copy of the report was sent to officials in the UK in August 2004.

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Public Accounts Committee's report on the quality and supply of kit for British forces in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: The formal response to the Public Accounts Committee report on Operation Telic is due to be published on 11 November 2004. This response will address the Committee's recommendations and conclusions on the quality and supply of equipment for British forces in Iraq.

Iraq

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which category of reservists are being called up to serve in Iraq; what the criteria are for calling up particular reservists; how long they will be serving in Iraq; whether all the reservists being called up have the same status; and whether, after the completion of their Iraq tour, they are eligible to do another tour of Iraq on their return.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 26 October 2004
	Members of the Volunteer Reserve, Regular Reserve and Sponsored Reserve have and continue to be mobilised to support operations in Iraq. A number of trades, the majority from the Army, are required. All reservists must meet the required medical standards and be suitably trained for the role they are to perform before they are accepted into full time service. Generally a tour in theatre will last seven months (some nine months in total if pre-deployment training and post operational leave is included), although some specialist reservists may serve a shorter term. Once mobilised they remain reservists, but have the same status and are treated exactly the same way as their regular counterparts. The amount of time a reservist can be mobilised is limited by statute. Therefore, whether an individual reservist may serve another tour in Iraq (or on any other operation) will be dependent on the length of their initial deployment.

Iraq

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) British Army soldiers and (b) Royal Air Force airmen are involved in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 1 November 2004
	As at 24 October there were 70 members of the UK armed forces, 57 soldiers and 13 airmen, who make up the Explosive Ordnance Disposal units deployed on Operation Telic.

Iraq

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the length of time it will take UK forces moving into the American sector of Iraq to become communication-compatible with US forces.

Adam Ingram: Throughout their deployment to the North Babil province the Black Watch battlegroup will be able to communicate with US forces in the area.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from (a) his United States counterpart and (b) the International Atomic Energy Agency on the disappearance in Iraq of 380 tons of special high explosives; and what threat assessment he has made of the danger posed to British forces in Iraq from this material, were it to be obtained by hostile forces.

Geoff Hoon: I was first informed of the disappearance of these high explosives on 25 October 2004, when a copy of a letter written by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency was passed from the UN Secretary General to the President of the Security Council.
	In terms of the threat to British forces, insurgents have acquired explosives from a number of sources. Given the amount of explosives that were already in Iraq, and the fact that the missing explosives seem to have been removed over a year ago, our overall threat assessment has not changed.

Medical Downgrading

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks in each service were medically downgraded as unfit for front line duties at April 1 in each of the last five years; in how many cases (i) the downgrading was attributable to service and (ii) the injuries were (A) temporary and (B) permanent; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: pursuant to the reply, 19 October 2004, Official Report, c. 593W
	I regret that part of the table contained some inaccuracies. The table details the revised footnote. Information on whether medical downgradings have been attributable to Service cannot be provided due to disproportionate cost.
	
		UK regular forces medically downgraded
		
			  July 2001 April 2002 
			  Total Permanent Temporary Total Permanent Temporary 
		
		
			 Officers   
			 RN(33) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RM(33) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Army2,3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAF(36) 580 230 320 580 230 340 
			 Other Ranks 
			 RN(33) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RM(33) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Army2,3 9,650 n/a n/a 10,210 n/a n/a 
			 RAF(36) 3,360 690 2,660 3,390 740 2,650 
		
	
	
		
			  April 2003 April 2004 
			  Total Permanent Temporary Total Permanent Temporary 
		
		
			 Officers   
			 RN(33) 280 30 250 290 40 250 
			 RM(33) 20 — 10 20 — 20 
			 Army2,3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAF(36) 610 220 390 630 230 400 
			 Other Ranks   
			 RN(33) 2,190 260 1,930 2,480 300 2,180 
			 RM(33) 560 200 360 720 200 520 
			 Army2,3 11,990 n/a n/a 12,530 n/a n/a 
			 RAF(36) 3,610 900 2,710 3,840 910 2,930 
		
	
	n/a = Denotes note available
	— = notes zero or rounded zero
	(33) Data for medically downgraded personnel within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are not available before April 2003.
	(34) Army Officer data are not available from April 2001 due to a coding error. This error has now been rectified and new data should be available from August 2004 ( July position).
	(35) The Army do not split medical downgradings by Permanent/Temporary.
	(36) RAF totals include Officers and Other Ranks classed as "other".

Medical Staff

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the target complement of medical staff is at Catterick Barracks; how many of each type of medical staff are employed; and what the turnover of medical staff has been in the past five years.

Ivor Caplin: The table details the complement of staff at the resident units at Catterick Garrison as at 13 October 2004.
	
		Whole-time equivalents
		
			 Post Title Rank/Grade Complement In post if different 
		
		
			 General Practitioner SMO Lieutenant Colonel 2 — 
			 
			 General Practitioner Regimental Medical Officer Lieutenant Colonel 1 — 
			  Major 3 — 
			  Captain 2 — 
			 
			 General Practitioner Civilian Medical Practitioner CMP 5.75 3. 75 in post 
			 
			 Senior Nurse G Grade 1 — 
			 
			 Nurse Practitioner G Grade 1 — 
			 
			 Nurse F Grade 2 — 
			  E Grade 19.5 18 in post 
			  D Grade 2 — 
			 
			 Combat Medical Technician Staff Sergeant 1 — 
			  Sergeant 2 — 
			  Corporal/Lance Corporal 22 — 
			 
			 Regimental Medical Assistant Sergeant 1 — 
			  Corporal 17 — 
			 
			 Consultant Psychiatrist Lieutenant Colonel 1 — 
			  Squadron Leader 1 — 
			 
			 Psychiatrist Lieutenant Colonel 1 — 
			 
			 Physiotherapist Major 1 — 
			  Captain 2 — 
			  SNR1 9 — 
			 Registered Mental Nurse Manager Major 1 — 
			 
			 Registered Mental Nurse Captain 1 — 
			  Sergeant 2 — 
			  Civilian 1 — 
			 
			 Community Psychiatric Nurse Sergeant 1 — 
			  Corporal 1 — 
			 
			 Liaison Officer/ Community Psychiatric Nurse Civilian 1 — 
			 
			 Senior Dental Officer Lieutenant Colonel 1 — 
			 
			 Principle Dental Officer Colonel 1 — 
			 
			 Dental Officer Lieutenant Colonel 1 — 
			  Major/Captain 4 — 
			 
			 Dental Support Specialist Staff Sergeant 1 — 
			  Sergeant 3 — 
			  Lance Corporal 5 — 
			 
			 Civilian Dental Practitioner CDP Band 2 1 — 
			  CDP 2 — 
			 
			 Dental Assistant DA1 7 — 
			 
			 Dental Hygienist Staff Sergeant 1 — 
			  Corporal 1 — 
			 
			 Pharmacist D Grade 1 — 
			 
			 Pharmacy Technical MT02 3 — 
			  MTO3 1.5 — 
			 
			 Social Worker Civilian 1 — 
		
	
	Records relating to the turnover of medical staff over the past five years are not held centrally. Military staff turnover has been in accordance with normal service posting plots.

Meteor Jets

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the Meteor jets will be located when Llanbedr airfield is closed.

Ivor Caplin: The airworthy Meteor jet is owned by QinetiQ, the company operating activities at the Llanbedr site on behalf of the MoD. The aircraft has been relocated to Boscombe Down in anticipation of closure of the airfield at Llanbedr. At present its future is uncertain. The remaining Meteor, which is not airworthy, is owned by the MoD. A number of options for its disposal are being considered, including the possibility of placing it with an aviation related charity.

Rapid Deployment

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the infantry regiments available at short notice for deployment.

Adam Ingram: I have assumed that the hon. Member is referring to infantry battalions currently available for short notice deployments. These are: 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment; the 1st Battalion The Queens Lancashire Regiment; 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles; and the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
	This will shortly change to 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment; 1st Battalion the Royal Highland Fusiliers; 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

Royal Military Police

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many investigations have been undertaken by the Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch using the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System in each year since its acquisition; how many persons were prosecuted as a result of each investigation; and how many prosecutions resulted in convictions.

Ivor Caplin: The Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (HOLMES) has been used to assist in four investigations since its acquisition: one in 2000 and three in 2001. In one case five individuals were prosecuted but none was convicted. In another case one individual was successfully prosecuted.
	Two further investigations are currently being pursued jointly between the SIB and the Ministry of Defence Police Headquarters in Wethersfield.

Service Non-public Funds

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many service non-public funds there are; and how much they are worth;
	(2)  what the estimated compliance cost to (a) service non-public funds and (b) the Department would be of their registration as charities under the draft Charities Bill.

Ivor Caplin: This information requested will take some time to collate. I will therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Submarines

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many decommissioned submarines are (a) laid up and (b) being refurbished following their sale;
	(2)  whether decommissioned submarines are cannibalised for spare parts; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The only decommissioned submarines are nuclear powered and it is not the Department's policy to offer these up for sale. Any re-usable equipment is removed and where appropriate, is recycled for use on in-service submarines. The used fuel is removed from the Reactor Pressure Vessel for long-term storage at BNFL Sellafield, and the submarine containing the reactor compartment, where any remaining radioactive material remains, is stored safely afloat. There are currently eleven decommissioned and defuelled submarines stored in this way.

Temporary Staff

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many agency temporary staff have been working for his Department in each of the last five years, excluding those working for agencies for which no data is kept centrally.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 1 November 2004
	This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

Public Engagements

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2004, Official Report, column 1053W, on engagements, 
	(1)  what public engagements he fulfilled in the week beginning 18 October, in addition to the general ministerial responsibilities referred to in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) of 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 720W;
	(2)  if he will list his public engagements carried out in the week from 25 October.

Alan Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 720W. In addition, and from time to time, I meet individuals and organisations outside Government, including right hon. and hon. Members of Parliament, to discuss Government-related business.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Argentina

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks he had with his Argentine counterpart while at the United Nations in September; what was discussed; and what the result was.

Jack Straw: I had a short meeting with Argentine Foreign Minister Bielsa during the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September. We discussed a variety of issues. I congratulated Foreign Minister Bielsa on Argentina's election to the UN Security Council. We agreed that the UK and Argentina should work together for the next two years on Security Council issues. We also discussed Falkland Island issues.

Cuba

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research his Department has commissioned regarding human rights in Cuba; and what statistical information his Department has compiled regarding human rights violations.

Bill Rammell: The UK closely monitors the human rights situation in Cuba through our Embassy in Havana. The Embassy has frequent contact with local human rights groups and with the peaceful opposition across Cuba. They keep track on human rights trends and political prisoners, and regularly report back to London. We also maintain dialogue with international NGOs who study Cuba.
	The EU, through the local Presidency in Havana, also monitors the human rights situation and submits comprehensive reports to all member states. The local Presidency regularly seeks opportunities to raise human rights and individual cases of concern with the Cuban authorities.
	UK policy toward Cuba is governed by the EU Common Position, which has respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined as its key principle. The Common Position is reviewed annually but, in view of the lack of progress, has stood unchanged since its adoption in 1996. The last review was on 15 June 2004.
	Following a major crackdown on opposition in Cuba in March 2003 and the imprisonment of a further 75 peaceful opposition members, EU member states agreed unanimously to additional measures that reflected our human rights concerns. The Cuban response was to reject all EU development aid through official channels and to 'freeze' contact with EU Embassies in Havana. Six of the 75 prisoners have since been released, and we shall continue to evaluate the situation. We remain committed to dialogue and actively seek ways to engage in all areas; recent cooperation includes law enforcement, cultural links and development work.

Diego Garcia

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 21 June, Official Report, column. 1221W, on which date the US Administration last gave an assurance that no prisoners are held or transported through Diego Garcia; whether this was a (a) written and (b) verbal assurance; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The US authorities have repeatedly given us verbal assurances, most recently in May 2004, that no prisoners have at any time passed in transit through Diego Garcia or its territorial waters or have disembarked there. The British Representative on Diego Garcia has confirmed this to be the case.

G8 Summit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) businesses throughout Scotland and (b) non-governmental agencies with whom the Government are working in advance of the G8 summit.

Douglas Alexander: We are in touch with several hotels and transport operators in central Scotland, where delegates and media will stay. In due course we shall be in touch with other Scottish businesses about other requirements for the summit.
	A variety of Government Departments with an interest in the summit are working with a large range of non-governmental organizations in advance of the summit. Not all of these contacts are just related to the G8, but they include: the 'Make Poverty History' coalition, the BOND British Overseas NGOs for Development network, and the British Overseas Aid Group.

G8 Summit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are in place to ensure that businesses based in Perth and Kinross benefit from the holding of the G8 Summit in Gleneagles.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be awarding some contracts for the supply of services at the Summit. These will be awarded on a competitive basis and businesses in Perth and Kinross will be able to bid. There will also be sponsorship opportunities available, and the Scottish Executive is working with Perth and Kinross Council to identify these for local companies. In the short term, the other main commercial opportunities are likely to lie with spending by attendees (4,000 or more delegates and media will use hotels, restaurants and transport) and suppliers to the main contractors. Longer term economic benefits to Perth and Kinross are expected to arise from the increased international profile of the area and of Scotland in general.

G8 Summit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what related events the Government intend to hold (a) at and (b) in advance of the G8 Summit; and where.

Douglas Alexander: The G8 Summit is the principal event of the presidency. We plan other ministerial meetings too, including separate Foreign and Finance Ministers events in London.
	In addition, there will be a programme of consultation events with civil society. These meetings will take place both in G8 capitals (including London) and in other parts of the UK. A G8-related climate change science conference will take place in Exeter.

G8 Summit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to compensate businesses and individuals in Perth and Kinross who suffer loss as a direct result of the holding of the G8 Summit in Gleneagles.

Douglas Alexander: The decision to hold the G8 Summit in Scotland has been warmly welcomed by the Scottish Executive. The Summit will be an excellent opportunity for the promotion of Scotland as a world-class destination for business, leisure and study. And it is expected to bring significant benefits to Scotland and in particular the areas close to the Summit, in the lead up to, during and in the long-term as a result of greater media exposure and visitors.
	The UK Government, working alongside the Scottish Executive, are committed to ensuring that the Summit at Gleneagles and the surrounding area is safe and secure. The policing of the event, as a devolved responsibility, is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
	Some people living in the vicinity of the Gleneagles Hotel have expressed some concerns over possible loss as a result of the Summit. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Scottish Executive are jointly exploring the issues. We expect the position to be clarified well before the Summit in July 2005.

G8 Summit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the environmental impact of the 2005 G8 Summit on Perth and Kinross.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced that the two priorities for the UK's G8 presidency in 2005 will be Africa and Climate Change. He has said that Climate Change represents the world's greatest environmental challenge.
	We are taking environmental impacts into account during our planning for the Gleneagles Summit and considering how to offset carbon that is unavoidably generated by it.

G8 Summit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being provided by the Scottish Executive to his Department in connection with the (a) identification and (b) facilitation of access to local businesses and organisations for the sourcing of local products and services (i) in preparation for and (ii) during the G8 Summit in Gleneagles.

Douglas Alexander: We are working closely with the Scottish Executive and its Agencies on procurement for the G8 Summit. The Executive is helping us identify Scottish suppliers and is helping to ensure that Scottish companies are aware of the procurement opportunities.

Guantanamo Bay

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed British prisoners at Guantanamo Bay with his US counterpart; and what was discussed.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has frequent contact with his US counterpart on a wide range of issues, including Guantanamo Bay.
	The Government's position has been that the British detainees should either be tried fairly in accordance with international standards or they should be returned to the UK. In the absence of the prospect of a fair trial in accordance with international standards, we requested that the nine British detainees be returned to the UK. Five returned in March. Following a visit by officials to Washington in May. my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister repeated our request that the remaining four detainees be returned to the UK. We continue to work to resolve their situation.
	We are also continuing to pursue actively with the US authorities our outstanding welfare concerns.

International Atomic Energy Agency

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals are working with the International Atomic Energy Agency; where they are posted; and how many have recently worked in Iran.

Jack Straw: Staff are employed at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on an individual and not a national basis. The Government cannot, therefore, maintain its own records of UK nationals employed at the IAEA.
	According to the IAEA Secretariat, as of 29 October 2004, 73 UK Nationals were employed in professional positions at the IAEA. The overwhelming majority of these were employed at the Agency's Headquarters in Vienna; four were posted at the Agency's laboratory in Seibersdorf. Austria and one at the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratory in Monaco.
	IAEA staff travel on short term missions for a variety of purposes related to the IAEA's functions. It is not the practice of the IAEA to release information on who travels on such missions.

Mauritius/Chagos Islands

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the European Convention on Human Rights was applied to Mauritius and the Chagos Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The European Convention on Human Rights was extended to Mauritius, together with a number of other territories for whose international relations the United Kingdom Government was then responsible, on 23 October 1953. It ceased to apply to Mauritius when that country became independent on 12 March 1968. It has not been extended to the British Indian Ocean Territory, which has no settled population.

Russian Espionage

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has held with the Russian Government on spying in the UK by Russians;
	(2)  what recent representations he has made to the Russian Government about spying in the UK by Russians.

Jack Straw: We have a regular dialogue with the Russian Government on a number of operational intelligence issues. However, it is the Government's well-established practice under exemptions l(a) and l(b) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to comment on the detail of bilateral exchanges on security and intelligence matters, or on allegations of espionage activity.

Somalia

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in the peace building framework and role of the United Nations in Somalia.

Chris Mullin: The UN Secretary General, like the European Union, has welcomed the election of Abdullahi Yusuf as the transitional President of Somalia. We regard this as an important step towards the restoration of peace and stability in Somalia and look forward to the formation of a transitional federal Government in the near future.
	The UN is already active in Somalia and is planning to expand its role once there is a Government. I met Abdullahi Yusuf in Nairobi on 20 October.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the reported bombing in the Allaiet area in eastern Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have received reports that on 22 October the Sudan Liberation Movement tried unsuccessfully to retake Allaeit. the commercial capital of Berti Province, from the Government of Sudan's police force. We will continue to press the Government of Sudan and the rebel groups to stop violating the N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement of 8 April, to which they are all signatories.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the terms of the ceasefire are in Darfur; when these terms were (a) proposed and (b) agreed to; by whom; what assessment his Department has made of the Sudanese Government's compliance with the ceasefire terms; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The terms of the ceasefire are detailed in the N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement signed by the Government of Sudan, Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and Equality Movement on 8 April. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House. Officials from the British Embassies in Khartoum and Addis Ababa are in regular contact with the African Union (AU) Mission which is responsible for monitoring the ceasefire. The AU have reported ceasefire violations on all sides, about which we remain extremely concerned. We are continuing to press all sides to respect the ceasefire.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department, (c) other Members of the UK Government and (d) UK representatives in Rwanda have had with their (i) EU and (ii) African Union counterparts concerning the logistical assistance to be given to African Union ceasefire monitors and soldiers in their deployment to Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are in regular contact with our EU and African Union (AU) partners concerning logistical assistance for the expanded AU mission. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has raised this with President Obasanjo, Chairman of the AU. Both my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development have raised this with their EU counterparts. I discussed the issue with the AU Commission Chair, Alpha Oumar Konare, on 26 October. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development in London, Brussels, Abuja, Khartoum, Kigali and Addis Ababa are also in regular contact with their opposite numbers. As the Prime Minister announced in Addis Ababa on 7 October, the UK will provide £12 million to support the expanded mission.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the possible inclusion of security issues in the humanitarian protocol being negotiated by the Government of Sudan and rebel groups from Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have urged the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement to sign and implement immediately the Abuja Humanitarian Protocol. In accordance with the agenda set by the African Union, security issues are being discussed separately. We have pressed all parties to engage fully at the highest level and to conclude a security agreement as soon as possible. A UK observer is currently at the peace talks in Abuja.

Uganda

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government are providing to the Ugandan authorities in their efforts to combat the Lord's Resistance Army.

Jack Straw: We are working actively with the Ugandan authorities to end the crisis in northern Uganda. We are the leading cash donor to the humanitarian operation. We are seeking to enhance the effectiveness of the Ugandan armed forces through our financing of a comprehensive defence review. And, since we doubt that the Lords Resistance Army threat can be overcome by purely military means, we have also supported Ugandan efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation to help secure a comprehensive and sustainable end to this conflict.

Women's Rights (Africa)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries in Africa have adopted the Protocol on the Rights of Women; and whether the protocol will by addressed by the Africa Commission.

Jack Straw: 31 countries in Africa have signed, and four ratified, the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa. This is a Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
	The Commission for Africa has identified gender and the rights of women and girls as an important issue for its work across a broad range of themes. The Commission is actively considering how Africa and the international community working together can best address these issues to maximum effect.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Post Mortems

Iris Robinson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the eligibility for compensation is of individuals in the Province whose deceased relatives underwent a coroner's post mortem without appropriate consent.

Christopher Leslie: The Coroner does not require the consent of the family members to direct that a pathologist should carry out a post-mortem to assist him in the determination of the cause of death. His authority is found in Section 28 of the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 therefore the issue of compensation does not arise.

Civil Servants (Criminal Records)

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what procedures are in place (a) to check the criminal records of civil servants in the Department and agencies responsible to the Department who have access to computer databases containing confidential information on the public and (b) to ensure that there can be no improper use of computer databases containing confidential information on the public; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The majority of computer databases held by my Department and the agencies responsible to my Department do not contain confidential information on the public. Names, addresses and in some cases dates of birth may be held, but this information is personal, not necessarily confidential. All staff working for my Department and its agencies have a character check carried out prior to commencing employment. This includes completion of a criminal records declaration. This does not involve checks with either the Criminal Records Bureau or the Police National Computer, as these checks are only carried out for staff who work in posts where individuals deal with children or vulnerable adults or where staff require national security clearance. All of the databases held by my Department and its agencies have access restricted to those who work with or need access to the information.
	The Public Guardianship Office (PGO) hold confidential information on computer database. As a result, these databases have very restricted access and password and user accounts are only issued to staff who have undergone the character check upon appointment (as is standard) and provided proof of identity in the presence of their line manager. Further to this, the systems have comprehensive auditing facilities and all changes to personal data are added to an audit trail to which only the system administrator has access.
	The Official Solicitor and Public Trustee Office (OSPT) hold confidential information on internal systems. As with all staff in my Department and its agencies, OSPT staff must undertake a character check prior to commencing employment. Thereafter, this information can only be viewed over the computer network in the building, as there is no remote access. There are differing levels of access control incorporated to ensure that staff can only view information relevant to their area of work.
	More generally, existing staff are under an obligation to report any change of circumstances, including any criminal convictions to their line manager, who in turn should contact the Human Resources Directorate for advice and guidance. There are specific disciplinary procedures in place to deal with any misconduct that may impact on the reputation of my Department or the civil service as a whole and these are in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code.
	In addition to this, all staff have been recently informed of my Department's procedures on IT misuse in an IT awareness guide. On logging on to systems, staff are required to confirm they have read and understood the Department's policy on misuse.

Court of Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what checks are undertaken by the Court of Protection on an individual who has applied to be a receiver.

Christopher Leslie: All applicants are required to complete a receiver's declaration. The declaration is designed to make the applicant aware of the duties they will be undertaking as receiver, and is also used by the Court of Protection and Public Guardianship Office to assess the applicant's suitability to act as receiver. The declaration requires the applicant to confirm he has no outstanding judgment debts and is not an undischarged bankrupt.
	It is open to the Court to request that a check on the applicant should be made with the Criminal Records Bureau.

Court of Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what checks are undertaken by the Court of Protection to ascertain whether the person for whom there is an application for receivership lacks the capacity to manage his or her financial affairs.

Christopher Leslie: All applications for receivership must be accompanied by a medical certificate, completed by a doctor, as the jurisdiction of the Court of Protection is established by such evidence. The medical certificate should specify the mental incapacity suffered and the reasons why the person is unable to manage his or her financial affairs.

Data Protection

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate he has made of the annual cost of compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 to local authorities.

Christopher Leslie: The Regulatory Impact Assessment prepared at the time of the introduction of the Data Protection Bill (now the Data Protection Act 1998) estimated the compliance costs to local authorities (including schools) at a non-recurring cost of £104 million, with on-going cost of £29 million per year.

Disclosure of Convictions

Frank Field: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many cases since 1991 judges have disclosed to juries the conviction for similar offences of a defendant.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is not collected centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Franchise (Non-UK Nationals)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on allowing non-UK nationals to vote in (a) general elections and (b) referendums.

Christopher Leslie: The Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that, in addition to British citizens, qualifying Commonwealth citizens and citizens of the Republic of Ireland are entitled to vote in UK parliamentary elections. The position of Commonwealth and Irish citizens in the United Kingdom reflects the traditionally close ties that exist between our countries, and other non-UK nationals are not entitled to vote in UK parliamentary elections. The franchise for referendums is determined on an individual basis and is set out explicitly in the relevant dedicated enabling legislation.

Freedom of Information

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate he has made of the annual cost to local authorities of Freedom of Information Act 2000 (a) compliance and (b) information requests.

Christopher Leslie: The cost of compliance will vary from authority to authority according to the efficiency of their procedures and the effectiveness of their records and information management. The volume and complexity of FOI requests will vary according to the functions of the authorities and the nature of their current business. The more contentious an authority's business the greater the volume of the requests it receives is likely to be.
	The Department is working with the LGA to estimate the additional overall cost for local authorities. For local government, we will reimburse councils for any additional costs, in 2005–06 and beyond, falling on them as a result of the FOI Act.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the original target date was for completion of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan; if he will list subsequent target dates; what the current target completion date is; and if he will make a statement on the principal reasons for delays.

Angela Smith: When work commenced in early 2001, the original target date for completion to Draft stage was December 2002. As work progressed, the target date was revised on a number of occasions between 2003 and March 2004. The principal reasons for these revisions relate to the scale of the project, which has meant that each stage has taken longer than normally anticipated. I gave the current late autumn 2004 target date in May of this year and this is being adhered to.
	The publication date for the Plan is presently being finalised and will be announced within the next few weeks for a date in late November 2004.

Cattle (Over 30 months)

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the risk to human health of allowing cattle aged over 30 months to re-enter the food chain in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: In May this year the Food Standards Agency revised its estimates of additional vCJD cases which might arise over the next five years if the over-30-month rule is replaced with BSE-testing. The figures which they arrived at suggest for Great Britain, a best estimate of the number of vCJD cases that would result directly from foodborne exposure during 2004–09 is 0.5, with a realistic worst case of 2.5 vCJD cases. Results for Northern Ireland were approximately of the order of one-tenth of those for Great Britain. The Food Standards Agency estimates and subsequent advice are currently being considered by Ministers.

Child Poverty

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets are in place for the progressive reduction of child poverty in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: In The draft Priorities and Budget 2005–08 for Northern Ireland, which was launched by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Pearson) on 12 October 2004, the Government have committed to reducing child poverty in Northern Ireland.
	Supplementary targets are currently being consulted on as part of the development of an anti-poverty strategy for Northern Ireland. These are outlined in "Towards An Anti-Poverty Strategy, New TSN—The Way Forward, a Consultation Document".

Child Support Agency

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time is for the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland to process a case.

John Spellar: The average length of time taken for the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency to process applications under the new scheme to assessment stage is 15 weeks. The average time to reach collection stage is 22 weeks. The figure of 22 weeks is inflated by the number of cases that cannot be progressed due to system defects.

Civic Forum

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on the Civic Forum in the last 12 months.

Paul Murphy: The Civic Forum ceased to operate on suspension of the NI Assembly in October 2002. Since then, some expenditure has arisen in maintaining accommodation for the Civic Forum. In addition, there was budgetary provision for Civic Forum staff who were redeployed on other duties but who, it was anticipated, would return to Civic Forum duties immediately on restoration. Those costs amounted to some £97,000 in the last 12 months (1 September 2003 to 31 August 2004).

Civil Service

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working hours have been lost as a result of the recent strike action in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Ian Pearson: During the period of strike action from 11 December 2003 to 14 September 2004 inclusive, it is estimated that approximately, 409,378 working hours were lost by the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Council of Ministers

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will make a Written Ministerial Statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which his Department is represented in advance of each meeting;
	(2)  if he will make a Written Ministerial Statement outlining for each meeting of the Council of Ministers at which his Department is represented as soon as is practicable following that meeting (a) the key items of discussion, (b) the positions of the Government on those items, (c) the key positions taken by other member states that Ministers consider should be noted by hon. Members and (d) any preliminary discussion on the timing and the agenda of the following meeting.

Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 13 September 2004, Official Report, column 1451W.

Delayed Discharge

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average duration of delayed discharge was at each hospital in the Province in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Figures for the average duration of delayed discharge for 2003–04 are detailed according to hospital in the following table. Figures for years previous to 2003–04 are not available. Analysis of these data would require a manual exercise and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Average duration of delayed discharge 
			 Hospital 2003–04 
		
		
			 Belfast City hospital 31 
			 Musgrave Park hospital 39 
			 Forster Green 47 
			 Ards hospital 22 
			 Ulster hospital 23 
			 Bangor 14 
			 Royal Victoria hospital 25 
			 RVH Elderly 50 
			 Mater Infirmorum hospital 22 
			 Lagan Valley hospital 27 
			 Downe hospital 22 
			 Robinson Memorial hospital 59 
			 Dalriada 95 
			 Causeway 37 
			 Moyle hospital 45 
			 Whiteabbey hospital 59 
			 Mid-Ulster hospital 61 
			 Antrim hospital 40 
			 Braid Valley hospital 48 
			 South Tyrone hospital 74 
			 Loane house 139 
			 Mullinure 41 
			 Lurgan hospital 18 
			 Craigavon Area hospital 18 
			 Daisy Hill hospital 45 
			 Altnagelvin hospital 27 
			 Erne hospital 39 
			 Tyrone County 30 
			 Northern Ireland total 37 
		
	
	Notes:
	Duration of delayed discharge is measured as the number of bed days lost, and is recorded in respect of episodes of delay, which occurred throughout the year.
	Delayed discharges are recorded as a snapshot of the position at the end of each month. Episodes of delay are recorded only for those patients who were delayed at the last day of any month in the year.
	Please note that the 2003–04 figures are provisional.

Delayed Discharge

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bed days were lost as a result of delayed discharges at each hospital in the Province in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The number of bed days lost due to delayed discharges for the year 2003–04 is as follows. Corresponding data for previous years is not available, as analysis of these data would require a manual exercise and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of bed days lost 
			 Hospital 2003–04 
		
		
			 Belfast City hospital 9,860 
			 Musgrave Park hospital 3,734 
			 Forster Green 327 
			 Ards hospital 239 
			 Ulster hospital 9,922 
			 Bangor 155 
			 Royal Victoria hospital 1,704 
			 RVH Elderly 9,431 
			 Mater Infirmorum hospital 1,531 
			 Lagan Valley hospital 2,046 
			 Downe hospital 938 
			 Robinson Memorial hospital 1,291 
			 Dalriada 2,376 
			 Causeway 4,653 
			 Moyle hospital 4,533 
			 Whiteabbey hospital 9,057 
			 Mid-Ulster hospital 4,193 
			 Antrim hospital 3,163 
			 Braid Valley hospital 8,651 
			 South Tyrone hospital 3,314 
			 Loane House 3,463 
			 Mullinure 3,489 
			 Lurgan hospital 2,275 
			 Craigavon Area hospital 2,178 
			 Daisy Hill hospital 4,255 
			 Altnagelvin hospital 2,653 
			 Erne hospital 1,246 
			 Tyrone County 304 
			 Northern Ireland total 100,981 
		
	
	Notes:
	The number of bed days lost is recorded in respect of episodes of delay which occurred throughout the year.
	Delayed discharges are recorded as a snapshot of the position at the end of each month. Episodes of delay are recorded only for those patients who were delayed at the last day of any month in the year.
	Please note that the 2003–04 figures are provisional.

Departmental Accountancy Practice

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the finance director of the office is; what accountancy qualifications the director holds; and on how many occasions there has been a qualified opinion on (i) the resource accounts and (ii) other accounts of the office in each of the last five years.

Paul Murphy: The information is as follows.
	Part (1)
	Director of resources (equivalent of finance director) for the Northern Ireland Office is Paul Priestly. He does not hold an accounting qualification, but the head of finance who works to the director of resources is a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
	Part (2)
	There has been a qualified opinion on the resource accounts on two occasions (2000–01 and 2001–02) in the past five years.
	There has been no qualified opinion on other accounts of the department during the same period.

Departmental Spending

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on (a) hospitality and (b) taxi costs in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the lastest year for which figures are available.

Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office (including its agencies but excluding NDPBs as we do not have a breakdown of their costs) has spent the following on:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) hospitality 
			 (i)1996–97 269,613 
			 (ii)2003–04 319,741 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (b) taxis 
			 (i) 1996–97(37) — 
			 (ii)2003–04 19,213 
		
	
	(37) The amount is not available as at that time there was not a specific code for taxi expenditure.

Departmental Spending

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on (a) headhunters and recruitment consultants and (b) management consultants in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office (including its agencies but excluding NDPBs as we do not have a breakdown of their costs) has spent the following on:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) headhunters and recruitment consultants 
			 (i) 1996–97 nil 
			 (ii) 2003–04 4,944 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (b) management consultants 
			 (i) 1996–97 180,968 
			 (ii) 2003–04 238,802

Departmental Spending

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) public relations consultants in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office (including its agencies but excluding NDPBs as I do not have a breakdown of their costs) has spent the following on:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) advertising 
			 (i) 1996–97 480,160 
			 (ii) 2003–04 558,797 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (b) public relations consultants 
			 (i) 1996–97 3,995 
			 (ii) 2003–04 136,260

Disposable Nappies

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of disposable nappies used in the Province in the last year for which figures are available; and what the resultant cost of disposal was.

Angela Smith: There are no figures collected relating specifically to the use of disposable nappies annually in Northern Ireland. However, the Northern Ireland Household Waste Characterisation Study (2000) by NI2000 stated that disposable nappies made around 4 per cent. of the waste of the average Northern Ireland household. In 2003, a total of 901,136 tonnes of household waste was produced in Northern Ireland which, applying the 4 per cent. factor, implies a total of some 36,000 tonnes of disposable nappy waste. At 200 grammes per disposable nappy, this amounts to approximately 180 million such nappies per year.
	The three sub-regional Waste Management Groups are due to submit their Annual Performance Reports for 2003, which will include costs of waste disposal per district council, by the end of November. Based on the composition of the waste stream, it will be possible to estimate a figure for the costs associated with nappy disposal.
	Copies of the documents referred to will be placed in the Library, and I will write to the hon. Lady.

Equality Schemes

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the number of pages in each equality scheme required under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

John Spellar: An equality scheme is a public statement of a public authority's commitment to fulfilling their statutory duties and sets out how they intend to fulfil these duties. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland's "Guide to the Statutory Duties" lays out the key elements, as a minimum, which must be included in the equality scheme. Public authority's can, if they so wish, include additional information over and above this.
	The number of pages in equality schemes varies, depending on the nature of the public authority's business, the detail included (over and above the minimum required by Equality Commission for Northern Ireland), the physical layout of the document and the language used.
	The average number of pages contained in the equality schemes of the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and the Northern Ireland Office is approximately 75 pages (including annexes).

Fixed Penalty Notices

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether (a) English, (b) Scottish, (c) Irish and (d) Welsh driving licence holders can pay fixed penalty notices for traffic offences committed in Northern Ireland without having to be present in court.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment has introduced legislation for the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications and endorsable road traffic offences between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The Road Traffic (Driving Disqualifications) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, which came into operation on 11 October 2004, allows the holder of a Great Britain driving licence to pay a fixed penalty notice for a traffic offence without having to be present in court. The holder of a Republic of Ireland driving licence cannot avail of the fixed penalty procedure and offences must be processed through the court system.

Fuel Costs

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of (a) the availability of cheaper fuel to people living close to the border with the Irish Republic and (b) the impact of the availability of such fuel on (i) deprivation levels and (ii) economic regeneration in border areas of Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: No assessment has been made of this situation.

GP Prescribing

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what the cost was in 2003 of the prescribing of mediboxes by each general practitioner surgery in the Province;
	(2)  what the cost was in 2003–04 of prescribing mediboxes on a weekly basis, broken down by general practitioner surgery in the Province.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available. Mediboxes are not available on health service prescription but can, however, be privately prescribed, purchased, or provided in a variety of other ways.

Hazardous Waste

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what definition he uses of (a) special waste and (b) hazardous waste.

Angela Smith: Special Waste is defined under the Special Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998.
	Hazardous waste is defined under the Landfill Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 as "any waste as defined in Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC (the Hazardous Waste Directive)".
	The Department intends to subsume the Special Waste Regulations into new Hazardous Waste Regulations which, together with a new List of Wastes Regulations, will have the effect of implementing the definition set out in the Hazardous Waste Directive. Once these Regulations are in force the term "special waste" will no longer be used.

Health Service Data (Access)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to increase access of patients and their next of kin to information within the Province's health service; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department and all health and social services bodies, including boards, trusts, agencies and councils, are preparing for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which comes fully into force from 1 January 2005. The Act covers information held by a public authority which includes those bodies listed above and information relating to the provision of services provided by general practitioners, dentists, opticians, optometrists and pharmacists. The Act gives everyone a general right of access to information held by a public authority. The Act also requires a response to a request for information, subject to exemptions set out in the Act, to be provided normally within 20 working days of the receipt of the request.

High Hedges

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when his Department's consultation on nuisance high hedges in Northern Ireland commenced; when it is expected to be completed; which parties have been consulted; what steps he has taken to publicise this consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The consultation paper on nuisance high hedges in Northern Ireland has not yet issued. It was my intention that this consultation paper should issue in the autumn 2004. However, in light of workload pressures in the Planning Service and the need to focus resources on managing our unprecedented volume of planning applications, I have agreed that the consultation paper can be rescheduled and expect it to issue in September 2005.

Lignite Mining

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his policy on lignite mining.

John Spellar: Government policy generally in relation to lignite is reflective of the fact that the extensive reserves are of strategic significance to Northern Ireland. A considerable amount of data has been compiled as a result of exploration activity over the past two decades and this has led the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to suspend the issue of any further prospecting licences for lignite in the Ballymoney area. The position will be reviewed in three years.
	In the event of a company lodging an application for a mining licence or lease, it will continue to be necessary for that company to obtain planning and other statutory approvals, dependant on the nature of the operation, before a licence or lease would be granted. Planning Policy in relation to lignite mining seeks to balance the economic benefits with environmental effects. Applications would therefore be required to be accompanied by an Environmental Statement which details the likely significant effects of the proposal and mitigation measures.

Memorial Fund

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which groups and individuals have received grants from the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund through its multiple programmes; and what amounts were received in each case.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Memorial Fund (NIMF), an independent charity, was established in 1998 in response to a recommendation in Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's Report "We Will Remember Them". Its aim is to provide practical help and support to victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland troubles.
	Since then Government has allocated over £7 million in funding to the NIMF which, to date has paid almost £6 million in grants to approximately 7,000 applicants through eight schemes. The breakdown of expenditure by scheme is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Amputee Assessment Scheme 156,000 
			 Back to School Scheme 411,000 
			 Chronic Pain Management Scheme 190,000 
			 Discretionary Hardship Scheme 71,000 
			 Education and Training Scheme 517,000 
			 Short Break Scheme 1,353,000 
			 Small Grant Scheme 2,983,000 
			 Wheelchair Assessment Scheme 148,000 
		
	
	The NIMF does not provide financial assistance to groups. Applications are accepted only from individuals. For reasons of client confidentiality the NIMF does not disclose details of individual awards.

MOT Testing

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom in relation to MOT testing.

Angela Smith: I have no plans at present to change the way that MOT testing is carried out in Northern Ireland. Despite recent difficulties, the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency has a good track record of delivering a consistent, objective and independent service, providing value for money, and meeting key targets. Alternative arrangements have been considered previously, but each time the conclusion has been that the existing system best serves the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.

Planning Service

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning applications were lodged with the Planning Service, broken down by region in Northern Ireland in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and how many cases in each region have not to date been determined by the Planning Service.

Angela Smith: The following table sets out, by council area, the number of valid planning applications received and the number that have not been determined to date for 2001–02 and 2002–03.
	
		
			 Council area 2001–02 2002–03 Applications received 2001–02 which are still outstanding Applications received 2002–03 which are still outstanding 
		
		
			 Antrim 825 1,064 6 15 
			 Ards 1,052 1,247 4 41 
			 Armagh 1,322 1,258 13 50 
			 Ballymena 908 1,164 8 37 
			 Ballymoney 568 641 1 12 
			 Banbridge 963 1,325 2 12 
			 Belfast 2,573 2,361 23 39 
			 Carrickfergus 302 313 5 11 
			 Castlereagh 576 572 6 8 
			 Coleraine 1,023 1,030 9 49 
			 Cookstown 737 845 7 12 
			 Craigavon 973 1,147 4 29 
			 Derry 932 951 15 31 
			 Down 1,322 1,541 10 56 
			 Dungannon 1,182 1,345 8 23 
			 Fermanagh 1,292 1,564 10 32 
			 Larne 362 369 2 7 
			 Limavady 464 542 5 26 
			 Lisburn 1,339 1,487 11 63 
			 Magherafelt 973 1,118 13 47 
			 Moyle 437 424 2 14 
			 Newry and Mourne 2,066 2,368 25 85 
			 Newtownabbey 662 688 5 10 
			 North Down 758 758 1 17 
			 Omagh 1,037 1,103 17 26 
			 Strabane 633 686 8 18

Public Appointments

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Protestant, (b) Roman Catholic and (c) Non-determined appointees there have been to (i) the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland, (ii) general service grades of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland and (iii) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in the last 12 months; and what percentage of appointees this represents in each case.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Civil Service publishes its recruitment figures in an annual report.
	The report for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 has been prepared but has not yet been published. These are the most recent figures available.
	Northern Ireland Civil Service
	These are overall figures for NICS and include appointments to the Child Support Agency.
	
		General service grades
		
			  Permanent Temporary 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Protestant 1,037 4 5 462 39 
			 Roman Catholic 1,240 5.4 694 5.9 
			 Non-determined 22 1 25 2 
			 Total 2,299  1,181  
		
	
	Child Support Agency
	These appointments, included in the previous table, are identified as appointments to the Child Support Agency.
	
		General service grades
		
			  Permanent Temporary 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Protestant 91 41 33 35 
			 Roman Catholic 132 59 58 62 
			 Non-determined 1 less than 1 2 2 
			 Total 224  93  
		
	
	Northern Ireland Housing Executive
	
		General service grades
		
			  Appointees 
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Protestant 170 38.9 
			 Roman Catholic 223 51 
			 Non-determined 44 10.1 
			 Total 437

Public Employees (Religion)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the religious breakdown is of the employees of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The breakdown of Probation Board for Northern Ireland employees by religious community at May 2004 was as follows:
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Protestant community 135 40.5 
			 Roman Catholic community 150 45.0 
			 Community not determined 48 14.5 
			 Total 333 100

Public Housing Stock

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total amount of cash receipts has been from the sale of public housing stock in Northern Ireland over the last five years.

John Spellar: The total amount of cash receipts from the sale of public housing stock in Northern Ireland over the last five years was:
	
		
			  Net cash receipts(38) (£ million) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 70,132 
			 2000–01 95,339 
			 2001–02 99,507 
			 2002–03 142,905 
			 2003–04 138,236 
		
	
	(38) Receipts net of legal expenses/fees.

Sexual Abuse

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the percentage of sexual abuse that is perpetrated by teenagers.

John Spellar: The information is not available in the form requested. However, I can confirm that 14 per cent. (36) of the 249 persons convicted of sexual offences in Northern Ireland in 2002 were aged 19 and under.

Tourism

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tourists visited Northern Ireland between April and September; what locations they visited; and how many overnight stays they made.

John Spellar: A total of 419,000 visitors from outside the island of Ireland stayed 1,781,000 nights in Northern Ireland for the period April-June 2004 1 .
	A break down by location and how many overnights stays is not available for the above. However provided in the following table are the district council creas visited and total nights stayed by visitors who entered Northern Ireland directly, (via an Air or Seaport) 2 .
	1 Figures have been extracted from the Northern Ireland Passenger Survey and the Survey of Overseas travellers (Failte Ireland). Data does not include trips taken by ROI residents to Northern Ireland in 2004 but does include those who entered via ROI. The data for July to September 2004 and ROI residents will be available in December 2004.
	2 Figures have been extracted from the Northern Ireland Passenger Survey (NITB) for January to June. The Survey of Overseas Traveller does not record locations visited in NI. Data does not include all visitors who entered via ROI and ROI residents, just those who entered Northern Ireland directly. The data for July to September 2004 and all visitors who entered via ROI and ROI residents will be available in December 2004. Some visitors stayed in more than one location so they will be counted more than once.
	
		District council areas visited and total nights stayed of visitors who entered Northern Ireland directly April-June 2004.
		
			 District council area Total nights stayed 
		
		
			 Londonderry 24,400 
			 Limavady 7,600 
			 Coleraine 22,500 
			 Ballymoney 2,800 
			 Moyle 17,800 
			 Larne 9,200 
			 Ballymena 15,800 
			 Magherafelt 4,500 
			 Cookstown 5,600 
			 Strabane 4,600 
			 Omagh 9,200 
			 Fermanagh 13,200 
			 Dungannon 9,000 
			 Craigavon 6,100 
			 Armagh 4,900 
			 Newry and Mourne 10,100 
			 Banbridge 3,400 
			 Down 14,600 
			 Lisburn 19,800 
			 Antrim 19,300 
			 Newtownabbey 12,800 
			 Carrickfergus 9,100 
			 North Down 20,300 
			 Newtownards 12,700 
			 Castlereagh 4,200 
			 Belfast 134,100 
			 Total 417,600

Tourism

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to protect and sponsor the specific Northern Ireland identity at its outlets and overseas promotional events.

John Spellar: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is responsible for the direct marketing of Northern Ireland tourism within NI and the Republic of Ireland.
	Each year the NITB and Tourism Ireland Ltd. (TIL), which has responsibility for overseas marketing, work together to produce marketing plans built around the NI tourism product and agree a programme of overseas promotional events.
	In delivering these measures NITB staff work closely with TIL to ensure inter alia that the Northern Ireland identity and brand is promoted in an effective manner.

Travelling Community

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his latest estimate is of the size of the travelling community in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) produces statistics on self-reported ethnic group, the most comprehensive source being the 2001 Census of Population. The 2001 Census reported that 1,710 people belonged to the ethnic group 'Irish Traveller'.

Unlicensed Private Hire Vehicles

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been prosecuted for engaging in business involving vehicles not licensed for hire or reward over the last five years.

Angela Smith: During the period April 1999 to March 2004, 629 operators were successfully prosecuted for operating vehicles without being licensed to carry goods for hire or reward.
	The Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, which regulates the licensing of operators and vehicles, does not include an offence provision that would enable the prosecution of people who contract the services of unlicensed operators and vehicles.

Victim Support

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the review of the operation of Victim Support Northern Ireland has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: Victim Support Northern Ireland (VSNI) is core funded by Government to provide support, practical help and information to victims of crime in Northern Ireland. In accordance with the conditions of grant, an external review of VSNI was completed by PA Consulting in May 2003.
	A number of the recommendations have been completed and Government are monitoring closely the implementation of the remaining recommendations.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will break down the 38 per cent. reduction in income support and jobseekers' allowance fraud since 1997 referred to in his Department's press release, Dutch Counterparts to Crack Down on Benefit Fraud, of 20 October, by category of benefit.

Chris Pond: The 38 per cent. reduction of fraud in income support (working age) and jobseeker's allowance since 1997 breaks down as a 36 per cent. reduction in income support (working age) fraud and a 42 per cent. reduction in jobseeker's allowance fraud.

Benefits

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what actions are taken by his Department when a complaint is made about an appointee misusing the benefit income of the claimant.

Chris Pond: All complaints made about an appointee misusing the benefit income of the customer they act for are investigated. Where there is evidence that the appointee is not acting in the best interests of the customer the appointee is interviewed and reminded of their duties and responsibilities. Where the appointee has failed to meet these responsibilities the Secretary of State can revoke the appointment.

Benefits

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit recipients have been contacted about conversion to direct payment; what percentage have chosen to open a post office card account; and what percentage have so far failed to select a direct payment option.

Chris Pond: Key figures on the progress of conversion to direct payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.
	We are continuing to contact existing customers to invite them to provide account details. Those customers who have not yet provided their account details will be contacted again to discuss their account options, unless they have already advised the Department that they genuinely cannot open or manage an account.

Benefits

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks are undertaken by staff in his Department to ensure that the benefits paid to an appointee are used on behalf of the claimant.

Chris Pond: Currently formal monitoring of appointeeships is not carried out. However, officers acting on behalf of the Secretary of State can revoke the authority of appointees where there are concerns that they are not acting in the interests of the claimant.
	We are looking at our current appointee arrangements, including post-appointment monitoring. The proposed codes of practice will help to inform any future guidance in this area.

Benefits

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in England and Wales receive industrial injury benefit as a result of suffering from asbestosis.

Jane Kennedy: Information is not available in the format requested. The available information is in the table.
	
		Number of people in receipt of industrial injuries benefit for prescribed diseases D1 , D3, D8 and D9 as at March 2002
		
			 Prescribed disease England Wales 
		
		
			 D1 7,700 2,200 
			 D3 700 (39)100 
			 D8 (39)100 (40)— 
			 D9 2,000 (39)200 
		
	
	(39) Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide to the correct situation.
	(40) Denotes nil or negligible.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are from a 10 per cent. sample.
	2. Industrial injuries disablement benefit is currently payable for four prescribed diseases to people whose jobs involved working with asbestos or being exposed to asbestos after 4 July 1948. These are: D1—pneumoconiosis, D3—diffuse mesothelioma, D8—primary carcinoma of the lung with accompanying evidence of one or both (A) asbestos (B) unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening and D9—unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening.
	3. D1 relates to all pneumoconiosis cases only some of which (an unknown proportion) are asbestos related. D3, D8 and D9 are all asbestos related cases.

Job Search (Assistance)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provision is made at Job Centres for people who have (a) poor literacy standards and (b) no information technology skills with respect to helping them find jobs; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Laurence Robertson, dated 2 November 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the provision made at job centres for people who have poor literacy standards and no information technology skills with respect to helping them find jobs.
	In April 2001 Jobcentre Plus introduced its strategy for identifying customers with literacy, numeracy and language needs and a suite of provision to help improve those skills. This involved Jobcentre Plus screening all jobseekers for literacy, numeracy and language needs at or before their six-month interview. Those identified with a potential need are offered referral to an independent contractor to assess their current skill levels and identify the most appropriate provision to help meet their needs.
	For those assessed as requiring a small amount of assistance to improve their skills Jobcentre Plus offers a Short Intensive Basic Skills course. This course lasts for up to eight weeks, incorporates job search activities and aims to help participants achieve the National test at level 1.
	For customers assessed as requiring more in-depth help to improve their skills, Basic Employability Training for customers aged 25 and over, and Full Time Education and Training for 18 to 24 year olds offer up to 26 weeks learning in a work context tailored to individual need. These programmes can be extended for up to 52 weeks for participants requiring more help and both aim to improve skills by at least one level and offer work placements and job search activities.
	For those customers with an identified need for training in Information Technology, and who are eligible for Work Based Learning for Adults, New Deal for Young People (NDYP) or New Deal for Adults aged 25 and over (ND25 plus), appropriate training can be provided through these programmes to enable participants to be able to compete more effectively in the labour market. The training that is offered will differ according to the needs of each customer and is dependent on what is available in their local area.

Medical Referrals

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many cases the staff in his Department have referred to a medical practitioner to establish whether a claimant lacked the capacity to manage his or her benefits in the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The information is not available.
	The Department does not normally require a report by a qualified medical officer before granting an appointeeship. A visiting officer, experienced in appointee work, will make an independent assessment of a customer's ability to manage his or her own affairs based on Department guidelines. In cases where there is doubt the opinion of a suitably qualified professional may be sought, for example, a social worker, community psychiatric nurse or general practitioner.

Special Advisers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unpaid special advisers the Department has; what their names are; and which Government (a) bodies, (b) committees and (c) strategy groups each unpaid adviser (i) belongs to, (ii) advises and (iii) works alongside.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 28 October 2004, volume 425, column 1380W.
	Special advisors, whether paid or unpaid, are employed under the terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Unpaid advisors are appointed in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 51 of the Ministerial Code.